May.'] ROOMS — OBSERVATIONS. 297 
on the foliage or wood, have it cleaned directly before the 
heat increases the one, and to get clear of the disagreeable 
appearance of the other. 
MAY. 
All the plants will be able to withstand exposure, in the 
general state of the seasons, about the tenth of the month. 
Begin about the first to take out the hardiest, such as Lau- 
restinus, Hydrangeas, Roses, Primroses, Polyanthus, &c, and 
thus allow the others to stand more free and become hard- 
ened to exposure. The reason that plants are so often seen 
brown, stunted, and almost half dead during summer, is from 
the exposed situation they are placed in, with the direct sun 
upon them, and too frequently from being so sparingly wa- 
tered. There are no shrubby plants cultivated in pots that 
are benefited by full exposure to the hot sun from this pe- 
riod to September. A northeastern aspect is the best for 
every plant except Cactus, Aloe, Mesembryanthemiim, and 
such as go under the name of succulents, which may be fully 
exposed to the sun, but not to long and continued rains. 
Where there are only a few plants, they should be conve- 
niently placed, to allow water from a pot with a rose mouth 
to be poured frequently over them, which is the best substi- 
tute for the syringe. Daphne, Coronilla, Fuchsia, Camel- 
lia, Primrose, and Polyanthus, do not agree with bright sun 
through the summer. There has been a general question 
what is the cause of the death of so many of the Daphne 
odora. It may be observed that the first place that shows 
symptoms of decay is at the surface of the soil, and this 
takes place a few weeks before there are evident effects of it. 
The cause is from the effect of heat or sun and water, act- 
ing on the stem at least. If the soil is drawn in the form 
of a cone round the stem, to throw off the water to the 
edges of the pot, that the stem may be dry above the roots, 
mortification does not take place, neither do they die prema- 
turely when thus treated. For further remarks, see Green- 
house this month. 
