THE GREEN-HOUSE. 
251 
in beds need little direct attention at tliis 
period beyond occasional pruning and water- 
ing. Plants in flower require plenty of water. 
Sweet-scented Plants. — Provide a quantity 
of such things as China-roses, Sweet-briars, 
Aloysias, Heliotropes, and Sweet-scented Pe- 
largoniums, for the autumn ; they will be sure 
to be in request. Keep plenty of Mignonette 
raised from seeds : never be without a supply 
of this odorous plant. 
THE GREEN-HOUSE. 
The business of potting must be proceeded 
with according to the growth of the plants. 
Many of what are termed hard-wooded plants 
seldom require more than one annual shift to 
a larger sized pot, and this should be done just 
before they begin growing, whenever that 
may be. When it is desired to make the 
plants progress very rapidly, they may be 
potted twice, or oftener ; but plants of this 
nature seldom need more than two pottings in 
a season to secure the fullest extent of their 
growth. Free growing soft-wooded plants, 
on the other hand, are benefited by being 
potted frequently — perhaps every month — if 
they are required to grow large, and can be 
provided, at the same time, with a proper situ- 
ation for their growth. The green-house will 
now, when their own inhabitants are moved 
into pits or out of doors, provide accommoda- 
tion for the growth of tender annuals. 
House for Miscellaneous Plants. — 
Seedling plants raised during the season must be 
potted on occasionally, in order that they may 
become well established before winter : where 
it is desired to bloom them they should be 
liberally shifted. In general, potting and pro- 
pagation may be proceeded with amongst 
green-house plants, and a liberal supply of 
water will be required. Most of the plants 
may be placed out of doors, and the house 
appropriated to tender annuals. 
Temperature. — Allow perfect ventilation to 
regulate the temperature, only avoid subject- 
ing the plants to rough and very cold winds ; 
the latter, however, very seldom occur at this 
time of the year. 
Watering. — A regular and liberal supply of 
water should be given to the plants, for nothing- 
is more hurtful to them, in the progress of 
their growth, than a deficiency of water ; it 
must not, however, be given them so as to 
saturate the soil, but they should be allowed 
to get nearly- dry before a fresh supply is 
given to them. In order to understand what 
is meant by allowing the soil to become dry, 
set aside a worthless plant, and allow it to dry 
until it begins to droop ; the plants must not 
get so dry as this, before they are. watered. 
Potting. — Continue shifting any of the 
plants that require it, especially soft-wooded 
plants, seedlings, &c. Hard-wooded green- 
house shrubs may be potted now, if not done 
before, but they seldom require more than one 
annual shift. Cuttings which are rooted, and 
seedlings which are large enough, may be 
potted off. In general, seedlings are better 
for being what is termed " pricked out," that 
is, transplanted carefully an inch or so apart 
in other pots or boxes, as soon as they are 
large enough to handle ; by this means the 
roots become more numerous, and the plants 
may be better transplanted again subsequently. 
Pruning. — Nothing is of more importance 
to the beauty and perfection of a plant than a 
proper system of pruning ; and, as a rule, the 
earlier pruning is performed, the more satis- 
factory are the results. It is for this reason 
that it is necessary, throughout the growing 
season, to " stop," or take off, the extreme 
point of strong vigorous shoots, in order that 
the symmetry and proportion of the plants 
may not be destroyed by their growing at 
random, and robbing the weaker shoots : the 
earlier such shoots are stopped, the sooner is 
the current of sap diverted into other chan- 
nels, and the evil arrested. Refer to what is 
said at p. 209 about cutting down large plants, 
which may still be done if desirable. 
Propagation, in all its various forms, may 
be prosecuted assiduously. 
Chrysanthemums, for autumn flowering, 
when they are growing freely, and are con- 
siderably advanced, should be placed thinly in 
a situation (out of doors) where they will 
have free light and air ; liquid manure will be 
beneficial to keep them strong and vigorous, 
but they are better not placed in larger pots 
yet. One of the best means of getting dwarf 
and strong plants, is to let them grow tall, and 
keep them in small pots till the middle of 
August ; then pot them into pots a size or 
two larger, and coil the stems beneath the soil, 
leaving out from one to two feet of the top ; 
they will coil readily enough if they are allowed 
to wither a little before it is attempted, and 
will soon revive on the application of water. 
■ Melocacti, where they have been grown 
for a time in moist heat, must be brought to 
their ordinary green-house treatment, keeping 
them moderately dry, and exposing them to 
the temperature of a well-ventilated green- 
house, in order to ripen and mature their 
growth. Where any of them are in bloom 
they may be kept rather closer. 
Bulbs. — Any of these which are approach- 
ing maturity in their growth, must have their 
natural predisposition assisted, by giving them 
treatment suited to bring them to their resting 
state : this treatment consists mainly, in gra- 
dually diminishing the supplies of water. 
Those that are at rest must be kept dry, in a 
cool place. 
