52 
THE GREEN-HOUSE. 
not then injure those which are less vigorous : 
besides, in the application of water, and the 
admission of air, the peculiar wants of each 
group may, to a certain extent, be thus met. 
This arrangement of the plants into groups, 
besides the advantage it affords as regards 
treatment, is also much more effective than an 
indiscriminate, miscellaneous arrangement, in 
which the only guiding principle has been to 
place the whole, so as to show an even sloping 
bank of leaves and flowers, and to intermix, as 
much as possible, plants with large and diminu- 
tive foliage. The treatment of the different 
groups of plants must be assimilated, as far as 
the circumstances admit, with the directions 
given under the separate heads. 
Succulents. — Succulent plants will not, 
generally, require much additional moisture 
yet, although some of the plants of Cereus, and 
Epiphyllum, may be taken in succession into 
a warm house to cause them to expand their 
flowers. These plants should have all the air 
possible, and very little heat. If they are not 
grown in a separate house or pot, they may yet 
stand on any of the back dry shelves of the 
ordinary green-house. 
Aloes, and other plants of this kind, must 
not get too much water — very moderate sup- 
plies are sufficient — and they ought to have 
the benefit of enjoying a tolerable free expo- 
sure to the air. 
Melocacti. — Towards the latter end of the 
month, these plants may receive a slight in- 
crease of temperature, accompanied by more 
moisture : put them in the warmest situation 
the green-house affords. 
Kalosantkus. — These beautiful plants, more 
generally known by the name of Crassula, are 
now to be treated with a view to produce 
flowering-plants for the summer and autumn. 
Young plants raised twelve months ago, and 
grown during summer into stocky, vigorous 
plants, may now be shifted, and must be 
treated well to make strong shoots with vigor- 
ous, healthy heads of flowers. A good warm 
green-house is the best place for them. 
Lachenalias. — These beautiful little bulbous 
plants, potted in autumn, and placed on a 
slight bottom heat, will now be in flower, and 
are best placed on the shelves near the light : 
after flowering, the leaves must be encouraged 
to grow for a month or two, giving them 
plenty of water, and placing them in the full 
light. 
Cape Bulbs. — Of this class of plants, a 
succession should be kept by varying the 
season of potting ; some should be potted in 
autumn, and brought forward by a little heat; 
others potted early in the spring, will furnish a 
later bloom ; and if some few can be kept at rest 
even later still, they will bloom at a subsequent 
period, and make a pretty variety among other 
plants. Ixia, Gladiolus, and Oxalis, are 
particularly referred to. 
Ahtromerias. — The roots of these should 
be potted in rich sandy loom, and most of them 
require large pots. After potting, give them 
a little warmth, and water moderately, until 
they begin to grow pretty freely ; they may 
then be removed to the green-house. 
Temperature. — The temperature should be 
regulated at about a mean of 42, or 45 degrees, 
keeping it lower at night ; and ventilation 
must be attended to as directed at p. 9. 
Seeds, and Seedlings. — Any seeds of green- 
house plants which were not sown last month, 
and from which plants are intended to be 
raised during the present season, ought to be 
sown some time this month ; (for the manner 
of doing this, refer to p. 8.) Some of those 
sown last month will probably be growing, 
and should be transplanted. The same kind 
of soil should be employed as the seeds were 
sown in. If the plants are small, four or five 
may be placed, at regular intervals, round the 
edge of a three-inch pot ; but if larger, two 
or three plants will be enough, according to 
their size. The plants should be returned for 
a time to the same situations which they occu- 
pied previously ; and after they begin to grow 
a little, and the weather becomes more favour- 
able, they may be gradually made to bear the 
treatment which is suitable to each respec- 
tively. 
Heath-house. — Ericas, §-c. — Where the 
sowing of the seeds of Heaths was not done in the 
autumn, it may be done early in the present 
month ; they should be sown in sandy, heath 
soil, in the manner recommended at pp. 7 & 8. 
The surface of the soil should be covered 
with a thin layer of damp roots until the 
seeds germinate ; and the pots may be stood 
on a shelf in the green-house, near the glass. 
As soon as the seedlings are large enough to 
handle, they should be transplanted into pots 
of similar soil, placing them an inch or so 
apart ; there is no better place for them than 
a cool shelf in the green-house during the 
spring, and a cool frame where there is plenty 
of air in the summer. 
Potting. — Small plants raised either from 
I cuttings or seeds during the past season, and 
j kept through the winter in small pots, may be 
repotted towards the end of the month, if they 
are required to make good progress during the 
summer. The size of the pots into which 
they are placed must depend on the circum- 
stances of the case, and the wishes of the 
possessor : if the object is to grow them as 
quickly as possible, into something like the 
magnificent specimens which grace the Me- 
tropolitan Exhibitions, they may now be shifted 
into pots two sizes larger than those they have 
been kept in ; that is, if they have been kept 
