THE MANUAL OP GARDENING. 
25 
after the weather becomes cooler, and of consequence the 
evaporation less rapid ; those which are in an active state, will 
require more than those which are dormant; but it may be 
observed that an accidental neglect to water, at this season, will 
not be attended with as injurious results, as if it were warm 
weather, or the plant were in free growth. 
Many of the leaves which were green, when the plants were 
first housed, will gradually decay, and should be removed, and 
those plants, which may have been placed in the house, for 
instance, Crysanthemum, and some other herbaceous plants, to 
give an autumnal gaiety, may be removed from view, being no 
longer sightly. 
As the weather becomes cooler, and winter weather ap- 
proaches it may be necessary to be more cautious as to the 
admittance of air, and ultimately a little fire at night may be 
required; but if the house be provided with close shutters, fire 
will hardly be necessary until late in December; and not then 
if the season be mild. Let it be observed as a general rule, that 
the less artificial heat used, the better; provided the temperature 
can be kept to a proper height. If plants are forced much, they 
are liable to greater injury from extraordinarily severe weather, 
or any of those accidents which will sometimes occur in the 
41 best regulated” houses. The shutters should be removed 
every day when it is practicable ; for, though there may be 
no sunshine, the light is essential. 
Presuming the severity of the weather to have passed by 
without the plants having been affected by the cold, and the 
spring to be approaching, and with it a warmer sun, and mild 
balmy air, it will be necessary to give air more freely, than of 
late ; and to attend more systematically to watering the plants, 
especially such as may be coming into bloom, or shooting freely, 
as a neglect to water may greatly impair their beauty, and 
shorten the season of bloom. Of course these remarks are only 
intended for those who keep a few plants for personal amuse- 
ment, and bestow a passing hour on their culture ; not where 
regular collections are maintained under the charge of a well 
instructed gardener. Such a person, to be fitted for his post, 
should practically understand all these things, and though he 
will, if he have any ambition to excel, look into books, indeed, 
read all that may be said on the practice and theory of his pro- 
fession, still these simple details should be as familiar to him as 
his own right hand. But to proceed. The temperature should 
not, at this early period of the spring, be suffered to reach higher 
than 50 to 55 degrees, as any sudden change in the weather, 
and such changes may be expected, would be severely felt by 
plants which had been unduly forced. 
That pride of the green-house at this season, the Camellia 
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