11 
FORCING-HOUSE FOR FLOWERS. 
again gone through, and the plant placed in 
strong heat, and it has now (Aug. 31, 1838) 
nine bulbs made in the short space of fifteen 
months. The plant was cultivated, with a 
number of other small ones, in a house that 
could be kept very hot." This is sufficient to 
show what may be done if It is required. In 
fact, by sacrificing the bloom for one entire 
season, and adopting a course of treatment 
something like that above referred to, a col- 
lection of small plants may be soon converted 
into specimens of no mean size. 
FOECING-HOUSE FOB FLOWERS. 
The decoration of the conservatory depends 
much on the operations of this house at this 
time of the year ; and no opportunity should 
therefore be lost of adding to the number and 
variety of the plants to be forced. Of course 
the principal part of those intended for this 
purpose have already been prepared during 
the previous season ; but if the supply should 
be insufficient, many plants may be at once 
potted up from the open ground, and intro- 
duced to the forcing-house. Rhododendrons, 
Azaleas, Kalmias, Vacciniums, Lilacs, and 
even Roses, may be so treated, as well as 
many other shrubs, and they will flower well ; 
but the plants will of course be considerably 
checked for another season's growth, without 
very great care be taken of them when out of 
bloom. The same plan can be adopted with 
most of the herbaceous and bulbous plants 
used for this purpose, as the Carnation, Pink, 
Forget-me-not, Hyacinth, Narciss, Crocus, 
Lily of the Valley, &c, if a sufficient stock 
have not been previously prepared. 
Temperature. — The temperature of the 
house at this period may vary from fifty-five 
degrees by night, to sixty-five degrees by day, 
of artificial heat : a few degrees more by sun- 
heat may be allowed towards the end of the 
month ; but it must be remembered, that the 
temperature should always be lower during 
the night than by day, and also that any pots 
plunged in tan or other material, should have 
from six to ten degrees more heat than the 
tops of the plants. When plants are first 
introduced to the house, they should be placed 
in the coolest part, and should be brought 
forward as the buds advance ; and they should 
be kept as near the glass as circumstances will 
allow ; for it must be borne in mind, that the 
slower a plant is excited into bloom, the finer 
and the more satisfactory will be the result. 
Watering. — Particular attention must be 
paid to the application of moisture. To ensure 
a full development of the plants' a constant 
supply of water is indispensable ; but it must 
be so regulated that the soil in which the plants 
are growing must never have any appearance 
of being in a soddened or soured state. One 
great precaution against this is, to make sure 
of efficient drainage when the plants are 
potted ; and another is, to water moderately 
often, but not too copiously. The plants, and 
the walls and floor of the house, should also 
be syringed once a day, or oftener if necessary, 
in order to maintain a moistened and sweet 
atmosphere. 
Removal. — As the plants advance towards 
perfection, they should be removed before the 
blossom is fully expanded ; if it is at hand, a 
house with a little lower temperature is desi- 
rable for them ; but if there is no such con- 
venience, they must be taken at once to the 
conservatory. If the first course is pursued 
they will in a few days be sufficiently hardened 
to bear the cooler atmosphere of the conserva- 
tory, and will flower much finer, and the blos- 
som will last longer, than if the changes of 
temperature had been more sudden. 
Succession. — In order to maintain a regular 
supply, fresh plants should be introduced as 
those which advance to a flowering state are 
removed. Except in the case of such an uni- 
versal favourite as the Rose, of which it is 
hardly possible to have too many, this seem- 
ingly irregular plan will be found to furnish 
a greater variety than would be obtained by 
making regular set introductions. 
Insects. — Immediately the green fly is no- 
ticed on any of the plants, recourse must be 
had to tobacco fumigation ; for so rapid is the 
increase of this little pest, that the least delay 
is fatal to many a fine crop of blooms. The 
best substance to use is common tobacco — not 
tobacco paper, for although there may be great 
objections to the former on account of the 
smell, it is much less disagreeable than the 
latter. Being provided with the tobacco, get 
a flower-pot, and knock a hole in the side of 
it, a little above the bottom ; then put in a 
few red-hot cinders, and lay a portion of 
tobacco over them ; see that it begins to burn 
freely, then add more tobacco, and over that 
place a handful of damp, short hay ; apply a 
bellows to the hole in the side of the pot, and 
keep the tobacco steadily burning until the 
house is as full of smoke as it is possible to 
make it ; leave the pot or pots of tobacco in 
the house all night, and examine the insects 
carefully in the morning ; if any appear alive, 
the fumigating should be repeated again in a 
day or two ; and under any circumstances, it 
should be repeated every fortnight, or three 
weeks at the furthest. 
Roses. — If these are wanted in any quan- 
tity, a regular succession of Provenee, da- 
mask, moss, and the allied sorts, should be 
introduced about the first of the month, in 
order to succeed those advancing to perfec- 
tion. Those introduced now will be in 
bloom in March and April. If they are 
