332 
CONTEMPORARY WRITINGS. 
structing from view the pleasing and varied 
surface of the latter. The various shades of 
colour exhibited in their blooms during the 
flowering season render them attractive and 
interesting objects ; and from their bright 
and glossy foliage, and varied heights, they 
add, at all times, to the general effect of the 
scenery. They are decidedly preferable to 
the tall, mixed, common shrubs, too generally 
planted for such purposes. 
Exposing Greenhouse Plants in Sum- 
mer. — Many greenhouse plants, and espe- 
cially the more delicate kinds, often suffer 
much injury from exposure to the sun's rays 
in summer. "When so exposed without the 
benefit of shelter of any kind, the soil is apt 
to become so thoroughly dried, that it is with 
difficulty again wetted, and hence the scorched 
and stunted looking growth which may some- 
times be seen on such plants in the summer 
season. The injury in most cases arises not 
from exposing the stem and branches of the 
plants, but from exposing the pot in which 
it is growing ; the sun's rays acting on the 
sides of the pots, in conjunction with the 
evaporation constantly going on, soon de- 
prives the soil of its moisture ; and as all the 
tender roots are usually more or less in con- 
tact with the inner surface of the pot, their 
injury is inevitable. It is no uncommon 
thing to see the soil so much dried as to 
shrink quite away from the pot, and in this 
case the roots cannot avoid being more or less 
injured. Under such circumstances, too, the 
water which is supplied sinks down as fast 
as it is poured on, and fails, for a long time 
at least, to moisten the interior of the soil. 
Then again, the necessity for constant water- 
ing caused by this exposure, is an evident 
waste of time. When plants are turned out- 
doors (and also when kept in-doors) their 
roots ought to be sheltered by some means 
from the influences alluded to ; plunging the 
pots in some open porous material will answer 
the end as well as anything ; and of the sub- 
stances that may be employed, moss, coal 
ashes, rough peat, sawdust, or fine charcoal 
are among the best that can be employed. 
It is desirable, also, to afford the entire plants 
a very thin shade during the intense sun heat 
of summer, but the lighter the material em- 
ployed the better. 
Aloysia citriodora. — This is a favourite 
forcing plant, its lemon-like scent being gene- 
rally esteemed. Young plants should be 
raised from cuttings in March or early in 
April ; when they are rooted encourage luxu- 
riant growth by potting them frequently in 
coarse loamy soil and leaf mould, and induce 
a compact bushy habit by frequently pinching 
off the tops of the young shoots until about 
the end of May. Then plant them into a bed 
in the garden, where the soil is open, mode- 
rately rich, and resting on a porous bottom, 
such as a layer of old mortar or rubble ; place 
them a yard apart, and continue stopping the 
young shoots when about two or three inches 
long, until the plants become large compact 
bushes. In September, take them up and pot 
them in large pots, and place them in a close 
cold pit, giving but little water ; the leaves 
will soon fall. In this situation they may 
remain with occasional slight waterings until 
they are required in succession for forcing, 
through the winter months. 
Liquid Manure. — An excellent liquid 
for all kinds of plants grown in pots 
may be prepared by mixing one gallon of 
soot, one bushel of sheeps' dung (deer or cows' 
dung will do), and a quarter of a bushel of 
quicklime, in a hogshead of water. It should 
be well mixed up and stirred when first made, 
and then, once a day, for three or four days, 
strained off into a cask, another quarter of a 
bushel of quicklime being added each time ; 
it will thus readily clarify. This liquid is to 
be used always in a tepid state, when applied 
to plants kept in a high temperature ; to 
strong plants, in the proportion of one gallon 
mixed with two of soft water ; and to weakly 
plants, in the proportion of one to three gal- 
lons of water. The pure water used should, 
of course, be rain water, if it can be obtained ; 
or if spring or well water is necessarily used, 
it should be well aerated — that is, exposed to 
the air and sun in flat open vessels. 
Bulbous Plants. — To check the growth 
of the foliage of bulbous plants is very de- 
cidedly injurious to them. After they have 
done flowering, it should be an object to sti- 
mulate the leaves to make strong and vigor- 
ous growth ; and this should be done under 
the influence of strong bright light, and con- 
tinued till they show symptoms of having 
passed their maturity ; this is generally indi- 
cated by their turning yellowish, and decay- 
ing at the tips. Moisture — both at the root, 
and in the atmosphere — is then to be reduced 
gradually until they are brought to a state of 
rest. It is, therefore, an erroneous though a 
common practice to cut off the foliage of 
hardy bulbs as soon as their bloom is faded, 
or even at any subsequent period, while that 
foliage is in a growing state ; and it is also 
hurtful, though sometimes necessary, to take 
them up and remove them to another place, 
unless this can be done without greatly dis- 
turbing their roots. 
Parasitic fungi infesting inhabited 
houses. — The Rev. E. Sidney recently de- 
livered a very interesting lecture on this sub- 
ject, before the Royal Institution. After 
some introductory remarks relating to the 
various forms of different fungi, and their 
