GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF GREENHOUSES. 
137 
connectors are two and a half inches, by four and a half inch square; C is a 
reservoir for supplying the pipes with water as it wastes, through a small hole 
about the size of a quill, having a plug which prevents an increase of steam, but 
does not prevent the water from dropping into the reservoir. Also, if the strokes 
are increased above six inches, and the water thrown over at 13, it is caught in this 
reservoir and thus enters again into the pipes. The top, 12, is closed, six inches 
being allowed from the pipe, 10, to the top. 
Thus much for the present on heating-houses ; we shall resume the subject again 
shortly, and give our opinion more at large, and shall at this content ourselves with 
giving a few hints on the general management of greenhouses. Greenhouse plants 
should never be supplied with mud water in wet or frosty weather, and none unless 
the soil in the pots becomes dry. This rule must be particularly attended to, from 
the beginning of November till the end of February. 
In March, the plants may be occasionally syringed over head to clear and refresh 
the leaves, but always select fine days for the purpose, and let this, as well as the 
general waterings, be done in the morning, from the middle of September till the 
beginning of May, and at all other times in the evenings. 
As the season advances and the weather becomes milder, increase the quantity 
of air, until, by the middle of May, a large portion of air may be left on all night, 
except in case of severe frost. And this rule of admitting air must be attended to 
throughout the winter at every convenient opportunity ; but always making a 
practice of shutting up early in the afternoon. 
Always keep the plants clean and perfectly free from dead leaves and weeds ; 
this must be particularly attended to in the winter season. 
About the beginning of March repot all the plants that require it, and top- 
dress the remainder with good fresh soil. Some free-growing kinds may require 
potting two or three times in the course of the summer, but the last potting should 
never be later than the middle of September. 
As greenhouse plants materially differ from each other in habits, so also the soil 
suitable for them must vary in proportion. For a general idea on the subject we 
beg to refer our readers to page 40, where, in our hints on The Management of 
Plants in Rooms,” we have given a few general rules as a guide to the inex- 
perienced. 
Never pot the plants in a soil too wet ; better to keep the soil rather dry than 
otherwise. Nor ever sift the soil, but chop and break it as fine as can be got, 
because sifting deprives it of the fibrous particles, amongst which the roots grow 
very rapidly. Always in potting give a good drainage with broken potsherds. 
In the beginning of June the plants may be removed to their summer station, 
out of doors. Always place them on an aspect screened from the effects of the 
mid-day sun, but yet where they will be able to receive the sun morning and 
evening ; whilst in this situation they must be supplied with water as often as is 
requisite. 
In the beginning of September again examine them throughout, and pot all that 
require it, and top-dress the remainder ; by no means let this be done later than the 
middle of September, or the plants will not have time to recover before winter. 
