210 
THE GREEN-HOUSE. 
their blossom buds — which are matters of suc- 
cession — will flower and grow earlier next year 
also ; and the later ones will, in like manner, 
continue to be later. Thus, by following up 
this treatment from year to year, habits of early 
growth and flowering on the one hand, and of 
late growth and flowering on the other, will 
become fixed in individual plants, and much of 
the difficulty of maintaining a succession of 
bloom will thus have vanished, with no other 
trouble than a regular attention to this routine. 
When the plants are growing away freely, they 
may be watered with clear diluted manure water, 
or soot water, made by stirring a peck of soot 
into a hogshead of water, letting it stand till 
settled, and then using the clear liquid ; this is 
highly conducive to a healthy and vigorous 
growth, provided all the other points of ma- 
nagement, such as potting, draining, watering, 
syringing, and the regulation of the atmosphere 
as regards temperature and humidity — formerly 
explained — are properly attended to and car- 
ried out. The very earliest plants, in which the 
annual growth is matured, and the buds set 
for next year's bloom, must be removed from 
theirgrowingatmosphere, and placed in a green- 
house, where there is less heat and moisture, but 
where also, for a time, they will not be too much 
exposed : after remaining here for a while, they 
may be moved to a cooler place, and finally set 
out of doors in a cool airy (not windy) situation, 
in order to pass their state of rest, previous to 
being excited into bloom in the early part of 
next winter. This feature of treatment, per- 
haps more than any other, should be a matter 
of every day's attention ; for on the proper har- 
dening of the plants when the flower buds are 
set, depends very much of the successof flower- 
ing them ; and though several plants were set 
to grow at one time, it is ten to one if they 
reached this stage of their growth together. 
Temperature, fyc. — For the growing plants, 
continue the temperature of 65 degrees pre- 
viously recommended. Those in which the 
bloom is set, may be moved to a house where 
the temperature is six or eight degrees lower 
on the average ; the warmer part of a heath 
house will suit them for a time. The atmos- 
pheric conditions formerly recommended, must 
be continued to the plants making growth, 
keeping them frequently syringed overhead, 
and the atmosphere quite moist, with but little 
ventilation, or so managed as not to cause a 
check in their growth by subjecting them to 
currents of cold air. The plants will not bear 
violent transitions of any kind, in any stage 
of their growth, without suffering serious in- 
jury, so that these must be carefully avoided. 
Watering. — Next to having the plants pro- 
perly potted, and the drainage properly ad- 
justed, which is most essential, the manner of 
watering the plants is the most particular fea- 
ture of treatment. When they are well potted, 
and the drainage has free play, it is indeed 
difficult to injure them by giving them too 
much, as the superfluity that may be applied 
drains away harmless ; but even this is not de- 
sirable, as the nutriment of the soil is washed 
away at the same time. The other extreme, 
that of allowing them to get too dry, is most 
hurtful tothem — if indeed it does noteventually 
prove fatal ; and therefore no pains or trouble 
should be spared to become assured that the 
plants are not suffering for want of moisture ; 
this first causes the bloom buds and then the 
leaves to drop off. The manure water recom- 
mended just above, especially the soot water, 
will produce leaves of the most healthy verdure 
— a condition which adds materially to the 
beauty of the Camellia: it may be given them, if 
diluted so as to be of a pale brown colour (quite 
clear), every second or third watering. 
Cutting down old plants. — No plants bear 
the knife better than Camellias, if only they 
are healthy : healthy plants may be cut to any 
extent with every success ; and then if they 
get tall or straggling, these evils may be reme- 
died. But sickly or unhealthy plants must not 
be cut, until they are first brought to a state of 
health, for it must be remembered that cutting 
in severely is not a means of producing health 
in the plants, but only of improving their form 
and appearance, when they themselves have 
vigour enough to bear it. 
Azaleas and Rhododendrons may be simi- 
larly treated, but they require peat earth ; the 
latter hardly require so much warmth. Shift 
the early ones as they go out of flower. 
Geranium House. — The temperature and 
atmospheric conditions of this house, need be 
kept about the same as recommended at page 
159. The plants do not require to be kept very 
close and warm, but the ventilation should be 
so managed as by no means to submit them to 
currents of cold air. Shading must be conti- 
nued or not according to the state of the wea- 
ther ; if at all bright and sunny, the plants in 
bloom must be shaded, or the flowers will soon 
fall. 
Pelargoniums. — In potting, pruning, and 
watering the plants for successional flowering, 
the same course of treatment must be followed 
as detailed at p. 159. A few more cuttings, to 
furnish plants for flowering in the winter, may 
be put in. 
Cinerarias. — When a few suckers or offsets 
from the earliest flowering plants can be ob- 
tained, they may be taken off, and potted singly 
in sandy loamy compost, in three-inch pots ; 
these young plants will produce the earliest 
flowering plants in the autumn : they may be 
grown in the frames. 
Fuchsias. — Re-pot the plants frequently, 
using a rich loamy soil, if young, vigorous, 
