182 HOT-HOUSE — OBSERVATIONS. [December? 
make thern substantial. If they are frequently painted 
with care, they will last many years. Snow ought not to 
be allowed to lay on these while they are on the glass, for 
reasons that we have assigned. See January and February. 
Some adopt double panes of glass to supersede the use of 
shutters, which they think are attended with considerable 
labour (at the most only fifteen minutes a day, while in use). 
The sash frame is made a little deeper, so as to allow half 
an inch between the panes of glass. The one is glazed from 
the out and the other from the inside. It appears to answer 
the purpose tolerably well, but the glass must be both fine 
and even on the surface, lest a lens should be produced, 
which would scourge the plants. We are almost confident 
that we have seen this effect in some instances. There must 
be a small hole about an eighth of an inch in both ends 
of each row of glass, to allow a current to dry up the 
moisture that may arise. Double sashes during the severe 
months are frequently used ; but shutters are preferable to 
either. 
OP PLACING BULBS, ETC., IN THE HOT-HOUSE. 
If any Hyacinths or other Dutch roots are wanted to 
flower early, a few of them may be put in the hot-house 
near the front glass, which will greatly tend to forward 
their time of flowering. By having some brought in 
every two weeks, a continued succession of bloom will be 
kept up. 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 
If there is a tan-bed in the house, and it was renewed in 
September, the pots should now be half pluuged therein. 
The violent heat will partly be over, and the plants are not 
so liable to suffer at root in this as last month. It will in 
part prevent the plants from being affected by sudden changes 
of temperature. Be attentive in keeping all insects com- 
pletely under. This is the period that these are most 
neglected, but by attending to the modes of their destruction, 
as already given, no species of them will either be hurtful 
or unsightly. Syringe the plants about twice a week, and 
