PITS AND FRAMES. 
535 
and consists of a kind of saucer, in the centre 
of which the plant is elevated, being sur- 
rounded by a kind of fosse kept constantly 
filled with water. 
FORCING HOUSE FOR vTLOWERS. 
Temperature, tyc. — Still keep the heat as 
equable as possible, avoiding all sudden changes. 
Should a few fine days occur, raise the tem- 
perature by fire heat, so as to admit of giving 
air without lowering the heat of the house too 
.sensibly. The range of the thermometer 
should be from 50 to 65 degrees. 
Watering. — Beguided in this by the weather, 
withholding a great deal, especially of the sy- 
ringing, in damp, cloudy weather, and see that all 
means of drainage in and about the house are 
efficient. At the same time be careful that 
the air in the house never becomes really dry, 
by being deprived of its moisture by over heat. 
Roses. — Kemove to cooler quarters any 
whose blooms are about to expand, and intro- 
duce a fresh supply. Keep them as near the 
glass as possible, and search constantly for 
insects, for they are liable to the attacks of 
many different kinds. If any of the Indian or 
Chinese sorts do not expand their flowers 
freely in the pit, a few days in the house will 
do them good. 
Pelargoniums. — Be careful to remove those 
already in before they have advanced too far 
in bloom, or have become drawn. Bring in 
others to replace them, and watch them very 
narrowly, as they are one of the first plants the 
green fly attacks, and they soon spoil the points 
of the young shoots and trusses of flowers : 
fumigate immediately they are detected, and 
syringe well the next morning, if the weather 
permit. 
Hyacinths. — Remove these to the conserv- 
atory as soon as the lower flowers begin to 
colour or to expand, and introduce fresh plants. 
If they have grown to any length under the 
ashes where buried, and are blanched, set 
them in a dark part of the house for a day or 
two, until they get a little colour, and then 
move them to where they will have plenty of 
light and air. 
Tulips, §c. — Keep up the supply of those 
anil other bulbs as well, by following a similar 
routine. 
Lilacs, and other hardy shrubs, should be 
removed as they begin to bloom, and fresh 
.supplies be brought in, and treated as pre- 
viously directed. 
Cerasus Mahaleb. — A few trees of this 
should be kept well established in pots, and 
one or two now and then introduced to the 
house, for the sake of its powerful fragrance. 
Double Cherry: — These also should be 
forced, for tin' pure while of their blossoms, 
and also for the abundance in which they are 
produced. A few standards or half standards 
to place among the taller plants would have an 
excellent effect. 
American Plants may be brought in in 
greater quantities this month, as their flowers 
will expand more perfectly as the light in- 
creases. Keep them moist and cool at the 
roots, and their heads well exposed to light 
and air. 
Cacti. — Introduce a quantity of these to- 
wards the end of the month, and gradually 
bring them forward. An occasional watering 
with liquid manure will be beneficial to them, 
when they are in strong growth. Let them be 
carefully washed and cleaned before they are 
brought in, if there is any appearance of scale 
upon them. 
Pinks. — Introduce more of these, and let 
them come on very slowly, being careful that 
they do not become dry, or they will suffer 
much. As a good many of these flowers are 
generally wanted for bouquets, a fresh batch 
should be placed in heat about every fortnight. 
Violets may also be introduced, and be 
placed in the coolest part of the house. Keep 
them free from decaying leaves, and do not 
wet them too much over head, as they are im- 
patient of moisture, and speedily rot if watered 
indiscriminately. 
Lily of the Valley. — Bring in more, and 
give it much the same treatment as the last, 
although it will accommodate itself to a more 
shady place. Have some in boxes for cutting, 
PITS AND FRAMES. 
Half-hardy plants. The necessity of pro- 
viding protection against frost will now be 
getting more urgent than heretofore. One 
great means of avoiding much of the injury 
which results from severe cold, consists in 
maintaining, as far as possible, a dry atmo- 
sphere in the interior, by the various means 
pointed out at p. 499 ; if a dry atmosphere 
is secured, the influence of what would be 
really too great a degree of cold, would be 
far less felt than if the dampness were more 
powerful. To exclude external cold, some 
covering material should be provided ; the 
most common and effectual materials are found 
in ordinary garden mats, but in fact almost 
anything may be used. Thatched covers, 
formed of light frame-work thatched with 
reeds, straw, or fern, are sometimes used ; but 
a much neater covering consists of framework 
covered with the asphalte felt, which is also an 
excellent means of protection. These covers 
arc most effectual when so made as to fit on at 
two or three inches from the glass, and enclose 
the space beneath them ; the confined air acting 
as a resistor either to the outward radiation or 
transmission of warmth, or the inward progress 
of cold. Covers which exclude light should 
