THE GREENHOUSE. 
533 
snrily. Use water which is rather above the 
temperature of the house. 
Seedling Plants, SfC. — During the winter 
small seedling plants require much attention, 
as they are liable to perish ; this is sometimes 
occasioned by neglectful watering, chiefly in 
giving them too much water ; but it is some- 
limes caused by the dampness of the atmo- 
sphere, and the want of fresh air. Delicate 
6eedlings cannot, however, bear much cold air. 
It i3 also sometimes caused by neglecting to 
remove the first vestiges of decay, which soon 
spreads, if not taken in good time. The same 
remarks apply to young plants raised from 
cuttings, &c. ; and, in fact, to delicate subjects 
of more mature age. 
Chrysanthemums, as they go out of bloom, 
should be removed to a south or west wall, 
and plunged in old tan, sawdust, &c. 
Melocacti. — These, which in spring should 
be grown in a brisk moist heat, ought now to 
be, rested, in a temperature of about 40 degs., 
such as that kept up in this house ; and require 
to be kept dry. 
Neapolitan Violets are liable to suffer 
from damp, and require much attention in the 
removal of decaying parts. 
Heath House. — Temperature, §c. — So 
that frost is kept out, and the plants get a 
good share of ventilation, little more is re- 
quired. The plants will now be inactive and 
at rest, and the cooler they are kept, consistent 
with safety from actual frost, the better will 
it be for them, as they will not then be prema- 
turely excited. The day temperature may 
range anywhere near 40 degrees, and at 
night may fall within a degree or two of 
freezing point without injury ; indeed a iew 
degrees of frost, if it happens to fall upon 
them, does not hurt them, but it is, perhaps, 
better to avoid this. They cannot bear con- 
fined and stagnant air, and therefore daily 
ventilation is of primary importance. Hardly 
any class of plants requires to be more care- 
fully watered than the heaths and their allies, 
which is partly in consequence of the fineness 
and hair-like nature of their roots, and partly 
owing to the soil they are grown in being 
exceedingly difficult to wet, when once it 
has got dry ; this, it will be seen, prevents 
the remedy from being effectually applied. 
Now, to avoid the injury which the plants 
sustain,' often irreparable, by neglect of this 
operation, the greatest possible care should be 
taken to keep the soil in which every plant is 
growing in a medium and equally moistened 
state, especially preventing the soil at the 
bottom of the pots from getting dry while the 
top looks moist enough. The West Kent 
garden pot should be used, in order to admit 
of examination in this respect. It is best not 
fo use cold water, but to make it just above 
the temperature of the house. If the weather 
is damp and foggy, it may be proper some- 
times to light a fire during the day, giving full 
air at the same time, in order to dry the interior. 
Azaleas. — Take a plant or two in suc- 
cession to the forcing house, to expand their 
flowers. 
Camellia House. — Temperature, $c. — 
This requires much the same management as 
the heath house, that is, a low temperature, free 
ventilation, and moderate regular application 
of water to the plants. Both in the case of 
these, and also heaths, fire heat may be dis- 
pensed with, except in very severe weather, if a 
covering can be put on the glass sufficient to ex- 
cludefrost. Lightframe-workshutters, covered 
with the asphalte felt, are as neat a contrivance 
as any for this purpose, and fully as effectual. 
Camellias. — Successional plants from the 
forwarder batches should be removed to the 
forcing house, to bring them into flower for 
the conservatory ; they must first he taken to 
the coolest part, and subsequently guarded 
against sudden changes of any kind. The 
plants in their ordinary state will be quite in- 
active now. 
Rhododendrons, Daphnes, Oranges, and 
other plants kept here, may also be removed 
in succession to the forcing house to expand 
their flowers ; the three here named are 
especial favourites for the conservatory. 
Pelargonium House. — Temperature, tyc. 
■ — Here a somewhat higher temperature, in con- 
junction with free ventilation, is required to 
be kept up, but it must not be carried too far. 
An average of 45 degs. iu the day, and a 
minimum of 36 degs. at night will suit them. 
They should get fresh air more or less every 
day, but being in a gently growing state, they 
must be rather more guarded against much 
cold air, especially in the shape of a current. 
To effect this, the ventilators on the sheltered 
side only should be opened in rough weather. 
The plants will require to be regularly watered, 
but must not receive beyond a moderate supply. 
As a general rule, the atmosphere must be 
kept dry, and no water carelessly spilled about 
the house ; but if it should happen that the 
frost should get inside the house, the plant:, 
may then be sprinkled. The management ot 
frozen plants is a point of importance, for 
though they cannot but be injured by such a 
visitation as frost, yetit is generally practicable 
to thaw them, without the injury being very 
material. The plan is this : get the fire 
burning briskly, so as to raise the temperature 
to 32 degs. ; at this juncture sprinkle the 
plants freely with Very Cold spring water, and 
continue this until the temperature is raised 
above freezing point, and the plants are 
thawed. No sun should be allowed to reach 
them for some time. 
