54 
THE GREEN-HOUSE. 
a large quantity of plants, simply because the 
operation is in hand, this plan would also aid 
the production of the blossoms in succession, 
as the earliest potted ones would, of course, be 
forwarder than the others. At this potting, 
all except young plants intended for late sum- 
mer flowering, which should get another shift 
some time hence, should be placed in the pots 
they are to bloom in, using rich loamy com- 
post, and plenty of drainage. When they are 
in their full-sized pots, the branches are to be 
tied down all round, as near to the rim 
of the pot as they can be pulled without 
breaking : it is assiduous attention to this 
tying down or spreading out, that forms the 
compact, bushy plants which are now so much 
admired. The plants should not, however, 
have such a multitude of stakes as we have 
been much in the habit of seeing. Something 
neat and secure, made of wire, and painted dull 
olive green, so as not to be very conspicuous, 
would be far preferable to stakes. 
Temperature, SfC. — The plants in this house 
require more warmth than Ericas, but they 
should by no means be kept too warm at night. 
From 35 to 40 degrees at night, and not more 
than 50 or 53 degrees by day, if the weather 
is fine and mild, or 45 degrees if it is dull and 
wintry, will be suitable and sufficient for 
ordinary purposes. The earliest plants from 
which the first bloom is expected, (not the 
forced ones,) should be placed in the warmest 
part of the house, and where they may get less 
air than the others, to which latter air is to be 
admitted with tolerable freedom when the 
weather is mild. It is best to admit air as 
early as possible in the day, and to close the 
house early in the afternoon. If the plants 
are wanted to be in flower by May, they must 
get from 55 degrees to 60 degrees by day, with 
air, and not below 50 degrees at night. 
Watering. — See the remarks given under 
Heath-house, which apply here also. Newly 
potted plants must get (because they require) 
proportionately less water than those which are 
well established and rooting freely in their pots. 
Tn the case of these plants, which are more 
than other green-house plants in a growing 
state, it is very important to use tepid water. 
Calceolarias. — These require to be potted 
about this time, especially all those intended 
to bloom early in the summer. Like the 
Pelargoniums, they should be potted at once 
into their blooming pots, selecting out the 
strongest to be first operated on, and leaving 
the weaker ones a short time longer. They 
require to be set in a light and very airy posi- 
tion, to prevent them from growing spindly 
and weak ; and they should be very cautiously 
watered at all times, but especially when first 
potted. A very successful cultivator thus 
describes his practice : — " About the end of 
February I select the strongest plants for a 
final shift, leaving the weaker ones a little 
longer, until they show indications of growth, 
when they may be shifted. The soil I grow 
them in, consists of equal parts sandy loam 
and heath mould, and a good quality of white 
sand, well mixed, but not broken; for I find 
they like to grow in the rough lumpy mould 
much better than when it is finely divided. 
I grow them in eleven-inch pots. After potting 
I place them in a frame, never allowing them 
to have the sun from the last time of shifting, 
but giving plenty of air. I water them very 
sparingly until they begin to grow, and then 
sprinkle them every morning with the syringe. 
I water them once a week (when growing 
freely) with manure water, and I find they 
flourish best with manure applied in this way." 
Fuchsias. — The old plants which have 
been kept in a state of rest through the win- 
ter, may be brought forward ar.d excited into 
growth by the application of small quantities 
of water. Cuttings, taken as soon as the 
plants have made shoots a few inches long, 
and rooted in a mild hot-bed, or under a glass 
in the green-house, and carefully tended, will 
make beautiful little blooming plants for" the 
summer. The old plants may be potted ac- 
cording to their requirements, when they 
commence growing, and may be subjected to 
ordinary green-house treatment. 
Fuchsia fulgens. — This plant produces thick 
fleshy roots, from which young shoots pro- 
ceed. One-year old plants, when excited 
into growth about this time of the year, are 
found to be preferable, both for blooming in 
pots and for planting out in the flower-garden, 
to young plants raised from cuttings the 
same year, which are alwa3's more vigorous, but 
produce less flower. Cuttings should be 
rooted in the spring, and grown in pots through 
the summer; and the old roots having been 
kept through the winter, something in the 
same way as those of the Dahlia, they may 
be potted early in this month and placed in 
heat ; when they commence growing they may 
receive the treatment of green-house plants ; 
and for planting out, require to be hardened 
off till May, and then they may be planted 
in the open border as soon as the weather 
appears settled. Plants th'us raised flower 
earlier, and for out-door purposes are much 
preferable. 
Scarlet Pelargoniums. — Large well-grown 
plants of the Scarlet Pelargoniums, are exceed- 
ingly appropriate objects for removing to the 
conservatory when in flower, for they are very 
beautiful. A selection of strong two-year 
olfl plants should now be made, choosing those 
which have the greatest number of stems ; and 
if they had been headed back rather closely in 
the autumn, it will be an advantage. These 
