CONSERVATORY. 
109 
require. This moisture, then, will be better 
managed in the orchideous house than in part 
3>f another, because the heat may be greater, 
the flowers open more freely, and much larger. 
Orchideous plants, when grown in pots, rarely 
do well, unless potted in large lumps of peat 
turf, which allows air and moisture to pass 
well through it ; but even they do better when 
the roots find their way outside the pot, and 
they will rarely want shifting, because they 
will depend but little on the room in which 
they are placed ; but baskets are better, 
logs of wood, any suspended situation, far 
better than pots, except some particular kinds. 
The principal object this month is to keep 
up the heat and moisture. 
THE GREEN-HOUSE. 
All the Botany Bay plants are now in per- 
fection. The young plants which are rather 
wanted to advance, may, if not yet shifted, 
be put into a size larger pots. All struck cut- 
tings may be potted in the smallest pots, and 
placed in a shady part of the house to grow, 
and as soon as their roots reach the sides, 
they may go into those of a size larger, for at 
this season they will make large growth. Most 
of the plants as they go out of bloom should, 
unless you want the seed, have all the blooms 
that are decaying cut right away. This gives 
the plant more freedom to shoot its new wood. 
Camellia Japonicas, now making growth, 
should be removed to the conservatory if 
large, as they form a fine evergreen, and to 
the pits out of doors if small. Hoveas, 
Acacias, and Epacris, should be shifted if the 
pots are full of root, or indeed if the roots 
reach the sides at all, as it will give vigour to 
the new wood. As all the young plants are 
growing fast, take off the ends of the leading, 
and any other vigorous shoot that you find 
growing faster than the rest, to prevent the plant 
growing out of form, and to induce side shoots ; 
and, generally speaking, you should be watch- 
ful of all growing plants, to check all branches 
and shoots that come wrong, or they will soon 
get out of form ; specimens that are coming 
forward for bloom in June, will derive benefit 
from a few hours out of doors in mild weather, 
and even a mild shower ; fumigation must be 
attended to if there is any show of the green 
fly; syringing is also useful to clean from dust 
and dirt many strong plants. 
THE CONSERVATORY. 
This is, indeed, a gay month ; for the assem- 
blage of beauties is great. The Cineraria, with 
its gay, starlike flowers, in endless varieties of 
colours, the flowers still in beauty ; the Rho- 
dodendrons and Azaleas completely in a blaze 
of flower ; Hyacinths and spring flowers 
generally in succession to those of last month. 
Some of the noble twiners which fesioon the 
upper part, and especially the Clianthus pu- 
niceus, with its scarlet bloom in abundance, 
are contributing their aid to this important 
department. The weather must determine 
what heat is required ; but not a fire should be 
heated wantonly; for the sun is powerful, and 
the heat shut within the house at night will 
preserve every thing against an ordinary frost ; 
and an extraordinary frost will be plainly 
indicated through the previous day and even- 
ing. A good moderate conservatory will require 
an hour or two's work for two of the best and 
cleanest men the first thing in the morning, to 
remove all the decayed flowers and fallen 
petals, dead or dying leaves, and plants whose 
beauty has faded. It is well to tap the main 
stems of plants whose flowers are falling, that 
those too far gone to stand the day may be 
disturbed, otherwise they will continue falling 
all day long; but a gentle blow with the flat 
hand on the trunk of a large plant, or with 
the fingers to the smaller ones, will bring 
down ail that would be falling and littering 
the place as soon as it is cleaned. The borders 
should be raked smooth, and the place swept 
out; replace the plants which you move by others 
just coming to perfection, not neglecting at all 
times a supply of Violets, Mignionette, Stocks, 
&c, which, being for the sake of perfume only, 
may be placed anywhere, whether they are 
seen or not, being of little importance, though 
by no means unsightly objects. Roses coming 
into flower in pots are pretty objects lor the 
conservatory, and should be placed where their 
falling petals are easily cleared away. The 
conservatory, being the receptacle for plants 
of all temperatures, should be provided with 
hand glasses cf handsome shape and make, 
something like the glass shades for curiosities, 
to protect any very tender stove plants that it 
may be desirable to keep there ; for the 
draught of air which should be passing, how- 
ever slight, will cause the blooms of many 
stove plants to decay before their proper time ; 
and these glasses, unless ornamental, would be 
an eyesore in a handsome room. Provision of 
a succession of plants should be made for the 
summer months, when most of the plants in the 
border will have bloomed ; and much pains 
will be required to keep up a good appearance 
of flower among so much green ; — and here 
the annuals will assist you : the Balsam will 
do its part. Pots of the tender annuals, sown 
in them, and thinned out where they are 
small, or potted singly from the frame, if they 
are subjects that deserve it, should be always 
kept ready, and in succession, for a conserva- 
tory, wherein the Camellia, Rhododendron, 
Azalea, Hovea, and such like subjects, which 
attain a noble size, are planted, but are merely 
evergreens after this menth ; care is required 
