53 
GENERAL CULTURE OF STOVE PLANTS; WITH A FEW 
MORE REMARKS ON HEATING HOT-HOUSES. 
1. Nearly all stove plants are easy of culture, althougli some possess pecu- 
liarities, which are necessary to be attended to for their successful management. 
2. All stove plants being natives of the countries within the tropics^ require as 
much heat as bears some resemblance to the climate where they naturally grow. 
3. The house intended for their growth, should therefore be so constructed as to 
give a good command of heat in the winter, when no outward helps are afforded. 
4. Never allow the heat to sink below 60 in a plant stove, or for general culture 
rise above 80 degrees, but rather endeavour to keep the thermometer as near 70 
degrees as it can stand ; although some plants will bear a much greater heat than 
80 degrees, provided humidity attends it 
5. On sunny days, when , the glass has risen to 75 degrees, give air ; the best 
situations for admitting it, is either through ventilators in the back or front walls, 
or by drawing down the back lights ; but never give air at the doors, or in situa- 
tions by which a regular draught of air would pass through the house, for this 
would dry the soil in the pots too much, and injure the young growing shoots. 
6. Never plunge the plants in beds of tan, a system which was formerly much 
practised, but now nearly, or altogether exploded *, because they are not found to 
thrive nearly so well as when placed on the surface of a prepared floor of some kind, 
7. In winter when the plants are not in a growing state, the heat may be kept 
from 60 to 65 degrees, which will give them a kind of hybernation, but in February 
when the plants are potted, increase the heat and start them growing. 
8. During the decrease of heat be careful not to over water, or keep the house 
damp, or the plants, in the dark months of November, December^ and January^ are 
liable to receive injury. 
9. Stove plants are of two kinds, viz ; dry stove plants, and damp stove plants ; 
the general treatment of these is somewhat different. The dry stove plants include 
all such kinds as are succulent, and which, in their native countries, grow in dry 
and in most cases exposed situations, where they seldom obtain any moisture. The 
other kinds require a humid atmosphere, and a good supply of water to their roots^ 
when in a growing state ; varying, however, in different plants according to their 
nature and habits. 
10. Dry stove plants. — -These may be divided into two kinds. — First, those 
having a very fleshy texture, and a shrubby habit, requiring water very seldom, and 
then only in small quantities. — Second, herbaceous or tuberous rooted plants, which 
* Orcliideous plants will bear a great heat, if attended with excessive humidity; these arc not included iu 
the present remarks. 
f It must be remembered that this rule stands as a general one, but there are exceptions to it, some 
plants scarcely thriving without being plunged in bottom heat. 
