442 
THE GREEN-HOUSE. 
Narcissus, &c, and some shrubs, as Eoses, 
Lilacs, &c, together with such green-house 
plants as Camellias, Azaleas, &c. : others will 
have been retarded beyond their ordinary 
flowering period, by removing all the flowers 
during summer, up to a particular period in 
the autumn proper for securing them in suc- 
cession ; such as these are Salvias, Cal- 
ceolarias, and similar green-house plants : 
another class of plants will not have been 
retarded, but raised, and contrived so as to 
come into flower at this season ; these will be 
the late propagated Pelargoniums, the Chrys- 
anthemums, &c. All these plants, when in 
flower, must have the best situation the con- 
servatory offers ; they must have all the light 
that can be secured, and while they are duly 
watered, all symptoms of dampness and decay 
•must be guarded against ; and when the plants 
have done blooming, if they are valued for 
another season, they must be protected 
throughout the winter — and well-treated too, 
in the particular structures congenial to their 
nature. 
THE GREEN-HOUSE. 
This is the intermediate period between the 
excitement of summer influences and the 
dreariness and torpor of winter, and plants 
are not insensible to this changed state of 
things. As no growth can be perfect and com- 
plete, except when made under the full influence 
of light, to enable the elaborating functions to 
perform their office, so it must be evident that 
with the now diminished light, the less growth 
that plants are allowed to make, between the 
present time and next spring, the better for 
them, so far as the ultimate vigour of their 
constitution is concerned. The treatment 
adopted, therefore, must be such as to favour 
the maturing of the growth already made, 
rather than the exciting of any fresh growth. 
This applies equally to plants of all kinds, 
excepting those which are intended to flower 
out of their natural season ; and obviously 
condemns the practice of setting plants so close 
together as to crowd each other in any way. 
Early in the month green-house plants of all 
kinds must be so placed that protection 
may be afforded them, should it prove to be 
necessary. 
Routine matters. — There are some few 
matters worth mentioning, that apply equally 
in every place, and may, therefore, be noticed 
here, to prevent repetition. The removal of 
all dead or decaying leaves, is one of these ; 
this requires constant attention, and though 
apparently simple as it may appear, it should 
be carefully done ; it is better to pick off the 
leaf, leaving the base of the footstalk untouched, 
rather than to remove it close to the stem, by 
which the latter is liable to become injured. 
Then, again, every two or three weeks, the 
surface of the soil in the pots should be care- 
fully stirred up ; if it be overgrown with 
moss, or appears exhausted, remove it, an inch 
or so in depth, and replace by some fresh soil 
of the same nature; if it does not require this, 
it should be stirred up, and then neatly level- 
led. This attention, together with the proper 
arranging of the plants, should be looked to as 
soon as possible after they are set in the 
house, and must not be neglected throughout 
the winter. Cleanliness, in every particular 
too, should be unremittingly persevered in. 
House for Miscellaneous Plants. — 
Temperature, <fc. — When the plants are first 
brought into the house, it is important that 
they are not too much crowded together, and 
also that they are allowed plenty of air. In- 
deed, if the weather is at all mild, the venti- 
lators should be allowed to stand open night 
and day, closing them only — and that partially 
or entirely, according to circumstances— during 
cold nights, and in intervals of cold, rough 
weather. A good average temperature for 
green-house plants is 45 degs. by day, and 
it may be as low as 35 degs. at night, with- 
out injury to the plants, unless they include 
some of those which are of a tender nature. 
The temperature of a green-house, however, 
is very fluctuating, because it is desirable to 
secure free ventilation as often as possible ; 
and in these cases, the temperature will neces- 
sarily vary according to the external weather; 
besides, except some particular object is in 
view, these fluctuations are of very little 
importance, so that the frost is fairly excluded, 
and the temperature does not far exceed the 
maximum of 50 degs. At night the tempera- 
ture should never be over 40 degs. In water- 
ing the plants no more ought to be given them 
than is just sufficient to keep themfrom becom- 
ing dry ; in fact, the plants should be placed on 
short allowance, the object being to prevent, as 
far as possible the development of additional 
growth, and at the same time to maintain that 
which is produced in as healthy a state as 
possible. Cold water should never be used ; 
it should always be as warm as the house, and 
if it be not rain water, should have been for 
some hours exposed to the atmosphere. 
Primulas. — Pot on a few in succession into 
six-inch pots, being very particular to drain 
them efficiently. 
Cacti, and other Succulent plants, should be 
kept rather more stringently dry than other 
plants, though this should not be carried so 
far as to cause them to shrivel up. When 
they are at rest, it is very essential that the 
atmosphere around them should be kept clear 
of all stagnant or accumulated dampness. 
Chrysanthemums. — Let these have as much 
I light and air as possible while they are ex- 
