THE GREEN-HOUSE. 
Tropeeolums. — In some cases these will 
liave started into growth in the autumn, and 
when such has been the case, it is hurtful to 
them to attempt to check their progress, as 
the vital actions of the plant having been 
called into play, the arrest of them will only 
lend to weaken the plants, and lessen the 
quantity and beauty of the blooms. They 
should be potted at once when their growth is 
perceived, into pots large enough to flower 
them in, which, if the roots are large, 
should be nine-inch or eleven-inch ones ; or if 
small, six or eight-inch ones will be sufficient. 
As the branches grow, they require to be care- 
fully fastened to appropriate slender trellises ; 
columnar ones associate best with other plants. 
AVhere the roots have not started previously, 
they may be potted now as above directed, 
and being placed at the warmest end of the 
house, will soon commence growing : give 
them no water until their shoots appear, as 
the moisture of the fresh soil given to them at 
potting time, will be enough to start the roots, 
and a greater amount would be likely to rot 
them. The pots must be well drained, and 
water cautiously administered ; as much as will 
keep the soil very moderately moistened will 
be enough until they begin to grow freely. 
House fob Miscellaneous Plants. — 
In this house, upon shelves or back stages, may 
be kept all the green-house bulbs, such as 
Oxalis, Lachenalia, Ixia, and many others of 
a similar nature. These should be kept dry 
all the winter, when at rest. The Lachenalias 
will, some of them, be growing and advancing 
in bloom ; they require to be moderately 
watered. When any of the other kinds are 
observed to be in a growing state, they must 
then be watered and potted, if necessary, and 
water must subsequently be regularly sup- 
plied them when they need it. Some of the 
Oxalis should be forced a little to get them 
early into bloom, to give variety in the con- 
servatory. 
Primulas. — A supply of Chinese Primroses 
(Primula sinensis), must be potted to keep up 
a succession of bloom in the spring months. 
The most beautiful are the double varieties, 
which are propagated by cuttings, and require 
careful treatment. The fringed flowered 
varieties, of different colours, are the best of 
the single ones ; pot them in rich, light, 
vegetable earth. They are very impatient of 
too much moisture continually about the 
roots. 
Climbers. — Climbing plants should be at- 
tended in before they commence growing, and 
provision should at this time of the year be 
made for the due disposal of their annual 
growth, so that they may not become confused 
or crowded at the time when they will be ex- 
pected to be in good order. To do this pro- 
perly, a knowledge of the growth of eaeli kind 
is requisite, for unless the degree of vigour 
which they are capable of exhibiting is known, 
it will be impracticable to provide trellises of 
suitable size for them. In most cases, it is 
desirable to place climbingplants at once in pots 
suitable for blooming them, for it is exceed- 
ingly inconvenient to transfer them, after the 
branches have extended over the trellis, without 
fear of inj uring them ; and this renders a 
knowledge of the plants also desirable, in order 
to portion out the size of the pot to the growth 
of the plant which is to be placed in it. At 
this time of the year, too, it is desirable to 
prune them : those that bloom on the main or 
leading shoots of the season, should be cut 
back rather freely, as the branches which are 
thus produced will bear the blossoms ; those 
that bloom on the small lateral twigs produced 
on the main shoots of the preceding year, must 
be differently managed ; some of the strongest 
and best ripened shoots should be selected and 
retained, removing only a short portion of 
their extreme immature points ; the rest should 
be cut quite away. Do not let the branches 
become crowded, but keep them moderately 
thin. This potting and pruning will be early 
enough if done towards the end of the month. 
Have all the young shoots properly tied in as 
they progress in growth. 
Succulents. — Succulent plants will be chiefly 
inactive at the present season, and in the ab- 
sence of much light, it is well to keep them so; 
this may, in great measure, be done by with- 
holding water ; it is only by the application of 
too much water, aided by the sudden gleams 
of sunshine we sometimes experience even in 
" dreary winter," that these plants are some- 
times induced to grow out of their season, and 
the consequence of this is, that they are less 
likely to produce blossoms at the blooming- 
period. Keep the plants, therefore, as dry as 
can be done without allowing them to shrivel, 
and as cool as possible, provided the tempera- 
ture is above the point of congelation. Some 
of the Epiphyllums and Cereuses, especially 
E. truncatum, will be showing symptoms of 
flower buds, and these, if desired, may be re- 
moved to the forcing-house, to forward the 
blossoms. When treated as a stove plant, this 
¥j. truncatum generally blooms through the 
winter, and is a beautiful and lively looking 
plant. 
Cyclamens. — These should be kept rather 
dry, but they are better not dried off, as 
recommended by some. 
Sowing Seeds. — The somewhat leisure 
month of January should be taken advantage; 
of tor sowing seeds of green-house plants, either 
home-grown or imported; next month will 
bring its own work, and this will then lie [ess 
easily got through. With the exception of 
