THE MANAGEMENT OF GREENHOUSES. 
535- 
as well to know this, because we all Lave our 
favourite plants, and we can always put out 
a few of these when the weather is favour- 
able. 
Never indiscriminately water the plants in 
a greenliouse, because where there is a mixed 
collection of various families, s-ome will be 
found to absorb much more water than others, 
and it is quite as bad to give too much as too 
little water. Half the plants in dwelling 
houses are spoiled by excessive wet, and 
especially where the pots stand in saucers to 
prevent the wet from runniug over the place 
when they are watered. In greenhouses we 
have seen this where ladies are very fasti- 
dious about the cleanliness of the shelves; 
but laudable as cleanliness may be, it is run- 
ning tlie greatest possible risk to let plants 
stand in water. Occasionally examine the 
pots, and turn out the balls of earth to see if 
the roots are matting round the side, for it is 
the best rule for removing a plant to a pot of 
a larger size. If the plant is growing, it 
requires it more than a plant at rest ; for 
a plant at rest should never be excited until 
it begins to advance of itself; besides, when 
a plant is set for bloom, and about to take its 
rest, until the buds swell, by a sudden excite- 
ment, such as being placed in fresh earth, or 
liuving too much heat or water, the bloom- 
buds get blighted, and the germs of the 
leaves and branches take up the growth, the 
former being unable to take the fresh supply, 
because flowers can only take a certain quan- 
tity, and the others being unlimited in their 
means by naturally extending themselves so 
long as there is a competent supply. The 
time, therefore, to examine the roots, is when 
a plant begins to make its growth, or at the 
decline of the flowers. There need be no 
other rule for changing pots, but the filling 
of the one with roots ; generally, however, 
once in a sea.-on is enough for established 
])lants,- and that is after they have flowered, 
and before- they make the next season's 
growth. 
Constantly turn plants round to prevent 
their growing shabby on the side which is in 
the daik, or comparatively so ; and also to 
prevent its making only one handsome front. 
All plants should be alike on every side ; 
and although it may give some trouble, it 
amply repays us by the improved condition. 
Nothing looks worse than a plant with but 
one good face, and the others discoloured, or 
leafless, or warped. Always give plenty of 
room to plants ; the light and air should be 
able to reach them all round. The best rule 
is to let there be just the same room between 
the plants as the plants occupy ; but green- 
house room is so valuable, that this is rarely 
allowed. Nevertheless, it does not alter the 
fact, that the mo^B room plants have, the 
better they grow ; and nothing does more 
harm than to place them close enough to 
darken the backs of the rows. 
If you want plants bushy and short, you 
mu>t keep pinching off the ends of branches 
that grow upwards ; but, as the perfection of 
a plant is to be full of branches and leaves to 
the very edge of the pot, this operation of 
pinching must begin early, even when the 
cutting has just struck, or the seedling, if the 
plant be from seed, be only three or four 
joints high; but those plants wliich grow 
pyramidal in form must have the leaders pre- 
served, and should only have such branches 
stopped as are inclined to come too long, — 
such as shoot out faster than the rest. 
Deciduous plants should not be watered 
after they drop their leaves ; but when they 
begin to swell their buds, they may be sup- 
plied with a little moisture, to be increased in 
quantity as soon as they shoot out tluir 
branches. 
Seeds of greenhouse-plants are best sown 
as soon as they are ripe. Nature points out 
this for all seeds ; but artificial culture, or a 
change of climate, suggests various changes 
in the plan of doing many things ; for in- 
stance, a tender plant may be sown in the 
open borders, in the spring ; and as it will 
meet with no frost until the autumn, it is 
quite proper to do so; but if the seeds 
were sown directly they were ripe, they would 
come up only to be killed by the frost. Not 
so with greenhouse-plants : they are in a 
proper climate. If they come up, they will 
grow without interruption ; and if they are 
in the habit of lying in the ground till 
genial, or, we ought to say, till warm weather, 
where they grow naturally, they will do the 
same in the greenhouse, unless the tempera- 
ture be prematurely raised. In all matters of 
doubt, we ought to make sure on the safe 
side. Foreign seeds, therefore, ought to be 
sown the instant we get them ; because, next 
to sowing them at the time nature herself 
sows them, it is well to do so as soon after as 
possible. 
All seedling plants are the better for prick- 
ing out, or transplanting, as soon as they 
have three or four leaves ; and the most 
effective of all methods is to get small-sized 
pots— say sixties — and plant the seedlings 
round the edge, close to the side of the pot, 
about three in a pot, or four, or even five, if 
they are small slow-growing things. They 
derive the greatest benefit from their roots 
reaching the sides of the pot. 
As you may be at a loss for the soil in 
which a new plant grows, use a compost that 
everything will live and grow in, and leave to 
time and experience any improvement yua 
