338 
THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
thoroughly dry ; but this rule must be regulated by the condition of 
the bulbs when planted : if already vegetating, water must be 
statedly given, about twice or thrice each week as the -weather may 
require, until vigorous growth begins. Air should be admitted 
sparingly until the leaves appear, after which it must be uniformly 
attended to by being gradually admitted early and late, during mild 
weather, and vise versa. 
On the approach of severe weather the frame, or pit, must be 
protected by banking up the outsides with highly decomposed 
manure, firmly and neatly pressed, to the extent of twenty inches in 
width at the base or ground level, gradually inclining upwards to 
within one to two inches of the top ; the remaining protection 
consists of one or two bast mats (dry if possible) placed over the 
lights in partial frosts, and when much more severe, the addition of 
dry litter or straw over the mats from back to front, about nine or 
twelve inches deep, may be advisable. During the kindly influence 
of sunlight, and milder air by day, the upper covering of straw and 
mats may be removed from eight or nine o’clock in the morning 
until three or four in the afternoon, admitting partial air by pushing 
the lights down at the back about one or two inches, the covering 
being replaced as required. Towards spring, as the weather becomes 
warm, careful attention must be paid to watering. The lights 
should seldom be left entirely off, except in very mild weather and 
cloudy sky, air being admitted as amply as possible, by tilting each 
light sideways iu the centre, and in all cases from the wind. As the 
plants progressively show their flower-stems, they may be removed 
to the greenhouse or conservatory, placed in a light anu cool situation, 
where they will be preserved from extreme drought, or exposure to 
currents of air. Dor greenhouse culture, the last-mentioned soils 
are most suitable ; if potted early, before the bulbs show symptoms 
of growth, the pots may be placed unplunged either in a cold frame 
or pit, with a correspondent treatment, or on a shady border 
(surfaced with ashes), or in the most light and dry place, screened 
from drip, under the greenhouse stage ; and, as before stated, they 
should be only occasionally watered until the leaves appear, upon 
which they must be placed upon the platform, and watered according 
to their progressive growth. As a geueral rule, if planted early, 
during the first month water seldom, but freely, after which they 
may receive uniform attention with other plants. The following 
precautions, under each method of culture, appear to be necessary 
for maintaining a healthy and vigorous conditon of growth. The 
dry and leafy texture of these and similar growing plants, renders 
them incapable of enduring opposite extremes of drought and 
moisture, or of long-continued exposure to strong sunlight, or parch- 
ing currents of air; therefore during their advancing and mature 
growth, deficiency of water should be guarded against as the worst 
evil. “ All extremes are dangerous.” In fine weather, especially if 
the pots are small, a gentle syringing or sprinkling over the leaves 
with a medium-sized broad-rosed watering-pot each morning and 
evening, previous to the expansion of the flowers, will be found 
beneficial. It cannot be too strongly enforced upon young plant- 
