192 
OPERATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER. 
balconies, drawing-room or boudoir-windows, or front stages in a greenhouse of 
small dimensions. 
Should any of the flower-garden beds chance to fall vacant as the month 
advances to a close, it will be advisable to fill them with seeds of some of the most 
beautiful annuals, choosing such as are known to be the hardiest. Clarkias and 
Collinsias are everywhere in the latitude of London considered hardy, and there 
are scores besides that only need testing to establish a like character. The advan- 
tage of the practice is, that some fine groups will be secured to mix w^ith the early 
spring bulbs &c., and the novelty — for those transplanted from sheltered parts 
never flower freely — will add to their attraction. 
Plant-houses of every sort that contain anything but some particular kinds of 
orchidaceaB or stove-shrubs in a newly-rooted and tender condition, must be 
thrown open as much as practicable in the day to the influence of sun and air. 
Camellias and some very susceptive stove species, with the majority of orchidaceas, 
may be spared full exposure to the solar rays ; but air will be beneficial even to 
these ; and all others may be left wholly unsheltered, in order to the thorough 
induration of their annual growth, and the due formation of flower-buds. It will 
be injudicious, however, to keep the houses open all night, unless it be those in 
which the plants make the nearest approximation to hardiness, for it is not cold 
but warm and dry air that is most efi*ectual in promoting maturation. 
It seems to us exceedingly likely that many of the species of orchidaceae which 
flourish in elevated localities or high latitudes, will, if their developments are duly 
perfected, be very extensively benefited by having the lights of the house in which 
they are grown wholly removed at the present time. All Lselias, most Cattleyas, 
many Oncidiums, and the members of several other genera, are of this class. Pro- 
bably their leaves would be rendered of a somewhat yellowish tint by such treat- , 
ment, and might, indeed, be completely shed if long subjected to it ; but this 
circumstance would only be in accordance with their native habits, and is simply 
parallel with what we unrepiningly and constantly endure in bulbous plants. 
There can be little question that the flowers of the plants thus managed would be 
far more profuse, and superior in size and colour to those of the specimens cultivated 
in the usual manner. The practice must not be attempted with any specimens 
that are in a growing or excited state, nor with freshly-imported plants. It is only 
meant to apply to those which are firmly established, and whose developments 
have been completed one or two months. 
