FORCING-HOUSE FOR, FLOWERS. 
-107 
plied by sun heat, if the house is kept mode- 
rately well closed. If, however, there is little 
sun, and the weather is cold, recourse must be 
had to the assistance of fire heat ; but it must 
be recollected, that a cool night temperature, 
65 degs. at most, is more beneficial than a 
high one, which, if carried very high, is in 
fact highly hurtful to the plants. The cooler 
house may range from 65 to 70 degs. by day, 
and 55 to 60 degs. by night. Moisture must 
be regulated by the fact whether or not the 
plants are growing ; if they are growing they 
must have a moist, growing atmosphere, as 
already often pointed out ; but if they have 
done growing, and are either resting or being 
brought to a state of rest, they require a drier 
atmosphere. For the resting plants, propor- 
tionally more air may be admitted than has 
generally been recommended hitherto; and less 
water must be used in direct application to 
them. 
Shading. — This may now soon be dispensed 
with, but it must be discontinued gradually, 
and not suddenly; unless, indeed, advantage 
is taken of a dull period of weather, to leave it 
off entirely. 
Potting, <Jr. — The present time affords a 
good opportunity of examining the soil and 
roots of such of the plants as are not in a 
state of active growth, with a view to effect 
whatever changes may be deemed desirable, 
previously to their again commencing to grow. 
The main consideration should be, not unne- 
cessarily to disturb them, but when they 
require transferring to fresh pots, or where the 
soil requires renewal, or, again, in the case 
of those on blocks, if the addition of fresh 
moss about the base of the plant is at all 
requisite, this will be found a convenient time 
to get it done. Before they are disturbed 
in this way, both the old and new soil, or 
material, should be allowed to get compara- 
tively dry ; so that no accumulation of unne- 
cessary moisture may take place about the 
plants. 
Soils. — An interval of dry weather should 
be selected to get together a supply of soils, 
and other materials for potting purposes; 
these should be kept under cover, or in such 
a situation as not to get soddened, or much 
charged with moisture. Peat soil of various 
texture, sphagnum and hypnum moss, half 
decayed tree leaves, sand-stone, broken char- 
coal and potsherds, are the principal materials 
required. 
FORCING-HOUSE FOR FLOWERS. 
As the operations in this structure will soon 
become numerous, it may be advisable at this 
time to consider what kind of house is best 
Suited for tin' purpose. The situation in 
Which it is placed should, of course, be as 
much sheltered as possible,' especially from the 
north and other quarters from which cold and 
strong winds may prevail during the winter 
and spring months ; yet the place should be 
airy, well exposed to the sun, and by no 
means shaded, or encroached on by large trees. 
A south wall, or one inclining a little to the 
south-east, will be found to afford the best 
situation, if the other requisites are not too 
widely departed from. The size of the house 
must of course be regulated by the supply re- 
quired ; the slope of the roof should be not 
less than 34 degs., and may be a great deal 
steeper, say 56 degs. The advantage of this 
steepness of roof will be found in its receiving 
the rays of the sun more directly in winter, 
and also in its counteracting in a great degree 
the condensation of water on the inside of the 
glass, which water falls from every lap in flat 
roofs, doing material injury to the plants un- 
derneath. Even where very flat roofs are 
glazed with large panes of sheet glass, this 
drip is constant and very injurious. The 
annexed diagram represents the angle of the 
roof at 34 degs. ; but of course, the internal 
arrangements are easily adapted to any other 
slope. The central pit {it) is heated by a hot- 
water tank, (b) over which must be laid a 
flooring of slates, boards, or other material, 
on which to lay the tan, or other plunging 
stuff in which the pots of such plants as 
require bottom heat may be plunged. In the 
sides of the pit (c r) small doors should be in- . 
serted, so as to allow the moist air to enter the 
body of the house whenever requisite. A flow 
and return pipe (it) extends the length of the 
house under the front stage (fi). The tank 
and pipes should be so arranged, that both cl- 
one only may be worked at once, as circum- 
stances may require. The house should 1 e 
Furnished with ventilators along the front (_/') 
and back (g ) walls, let in below tic u all-plates, 
so as to allow the whole of the sashes to lie 
