THE GREEN-HOUSE 
495 
Temperature, Sfc. — For the ordinary grow- 
ing plants which occupy the conservatory, an 
average temperature of 45 degs. by day (40 
degs. at night) will be sufficient ; but we have 
all along supposed the conservatory to be — 
especially in winter — a receptacle for gay 
plants brought elsewhere into flower, rather 
than as being much dependent for ornamental 
effect on the plants which occupy it naturally ; 
the latter, of course, if properly managed, will 
do much to aid this effect, but it is considered 
as being by no means dependent entirely on 
them. Under these circumstances a somewhat 
higher temperature must be kept up ; and if 
the permanent plants have been rested as pre- 
viously directed, the effect of this increased 
warmth on them will be only that of inducing 
them to flower in some cases a trifle earlier than 
they would otherwise do. From 50 degs. to 
55 degs. is the temperature recommended bv 
day ; and from 40 degs. to 45 degs. at night 
will be sufficient. The application of artificial 
heat will sometimes be necessary, perhaps, but 
it should be used very cautiously yet ; it is 
hardly to be expected that there will be a 
sufficient degree of frost to render it necessary ; 
but in Older to dry up extraneous dampness, 
and also to admit of occasionally purifying the 
interior by full or extensive ventilation, slight 
fires in the morning on mild days will be of 
service ; it must be remembered, however, that 
the fires must not be powerful, they must be 
discontinued by mid-day, so as not to heighten 
the night temperature — which always should 
be kept low, and the ventilation referred to 
must be afforded while the fires are acting. 
Such a course of treatment may be followed 
when a warm moderately clear day offers, after 
some continuance of dull heavy weather, but 
it should not be too often resorted to ; two or 
three days of continuous dull weather may 
afford occasion for it. On other occasions the 
house should be ventilated daily, admitting 
the external air at as many points as possible, 
and in bulk sufficient to keep the temperature 
somewhere near the point named ; in bright 
intervals, however, it will rise higher, and 
may do so occasionally with advantage. With 
regard to night temperature, the house should 
be closed early in the afternoon ; and except 
it be necessary to exclude frost, no fire should 
be applied. To ascertain when it will be 
necessary for this purpose — or at least when 
there is reason to suppose it necessary — is a 
matter that must be left to observation. 
Watering. — The plants being mostly in a 
state of bloom, and not of rest, it will be 
necessary to keep them regularly watered. 
They should not get so much as blooming 
plants would receive at any other season, be- 
cause this would be more than they would 
require for the exercise of their functions, and 
would only serve to render the atmosphere 
damper than would be suitable for the preser- 
vation of the plants ; but they should be just 
watered enough to keep them evenly moistened, 
in the state which has often been referred to 
as most suitable for growing plants. Morning 
watering has been already recommended. No 
water should be applied with the syringe, or 
uselessly thrown about the house. Tepid 
water only should be employed. 
Floners. — Whatever flowers may have been 
provided by gentle forcing for this house, 
should now be brought in ; and they must be 
renewed from time to time as may be neces- 
sary. They should be examined every day, 
and the dead flowers removed ; and they will 
probably require rearrangement about once in 
a week. Cleanliness and good order should 
be strictly preserved. 
THE GREEN-HOUSE. 
From this time forward until February, 
which period forms the winter and the ordinary 
resting season of plants, there are various 
routine matters that require occasional atten- 
tion ; thus, every two or three weeks the soil 
may be stirred up witb advantage, a little of 
the old being sometimes removed, and new 
added in its place ; almost daily the dead and 
dying leaves should be removed, at least, the 
most prominent should thus frequently be 
made the objects of attention, and at longer 
intervals the whole of the plants should be 
made to undergo formal surveillance in this 
respect ; the sweeping out of the pathways, 
&c. daily, is a thing so totally inseparable from 
habits of order and cleanliness, that it seems 
hardly necessary to say this should be done. 
House for Miscellaneous Plants, Tem- 
perature, cj'c. — The temperature of this house 
should he maintained at about 45 degs. — from 
40 to 45 deps. by day, and at night may fall 
as low as 35 degs. without injury to the plants. 
The house should be ventilated more or less 
daily — generally from about nine in the morn- 
ing till three in the afternoon; the amount 
must be regulated by the weather. In mild 
weather all the ventilators may be opened to 
their full extent, while in cold, stormy, or 
boisterous weather, though all should be 
opened, it should be as little as possible ; and 
thus between these extremes, according to the 
favourable or unfavourable nature of the wea- 
ther, every degree of ventilation will perhaps 
have to be produced, and possibly the amount 
will require to be considerably varied in the 
course of the day. As regards water, but 
little should be used, and that in the morning, 
and warmed to the temperature of the house, 
or rather above it. No syringing should be 
done. Artificial heat may be required to ex- 
clude frost, but it is much belter dispensed 
