174 HOT-HOUSE — OF BRINGING OUT, ETC. [May. 
many new things, and frequently both new and splendid, 
either in flower, fruit, or foliage. 
We have previously observed, that plants ought not to be 
flooded with water when newly potted, as it saturates the 
soil before the roots have taken hold of it ; and that the best 
draining for pots is small gravel or pot-shreds broken fine. 
We wish it to be understood that, when plants are repotted, 
any irregular branch or shoot should be lopped off that can- 
not be tied to advantage. And repotting may take place 
either before or after the plants are exposed to the open air, 
according to convenience. 
OF BRINGING OUT THE HOT-HOUSE PLANTS. 
When the hot-house is very crowded with plants, the best 
method to have them exposed without danger is to take out 
those of the hardiest nature first, that have no tender shoots 
upon them, thereby thinning the house gradually. This 
may be done from the sixteenth to the twentieth of the month, 
which will admit of a free circulation of air among those 
that remain. All may be exposed from the twenty -fourth 
to the twenty-eighth of the month. This is a general rule, 
though in some seasons there may be exceptions. Having 
previously given all the air possible to the house, that no 
sudden transition take place, which would make the foliage 
brown and otherwise materially injure the plants, choose 
calm days for the removing of them. 
There are few plants while in pots that agree with the full 
sun upon them ; or, if the plants receive the sun, the pots 
and roots ought not. The best situation for them is on the 
north side of a fence, wall, house, or other building, where 
they are excluded from the mid-day sun, and they should 
stand on boards or gravel, with the tallest at the back, firmly 
tied to a rail, or some other security, to prevent them from 
being overturned by high winds. Make a fanciful bed, and 
cover it with sand or coal ashes, for the reception of the 
smaller plants, and setting them thinly and regularly thereon 
is preferable to crowding them with the taller sorts. And 
it may be desired to have some of the plants plunged in the 
garden through the flower borders. Of these that are so 
treated, the pots must be plunged to the brim, and regularly 
turned round every two weeks, to prevent the roots from 
