THE MANUAL OF GARDENING. 
24 
vator must in the main judge for himself, as it is impracticable 
to give the minute directions necessary to meet all cases) or 
fresh soil, should now be shifted ; and such as do not seem to 
need such change, may have their appearance improved by the 
removal of an inch of the soil from the surface, and replacing it 
with fresh earth ; which will rid it, for a time at least, of the 
moss which is apt to accumulate there. The pots should be 
scoured, which will likewise kill the green moss, or mould, which 
grows on the exterior surface; and the leaves should be carefully 
spunged, or vigorously syringed, to clear them of dust. 
The arrangement of plants in a green-house is as various as 
the tastes of people ; the usual mode is to place the small ones 
in front and those of greater size behind, so as to produce the 
effect of an inclined plane; and this mode is the best, for the 
simple reason that it gives all a share of the light, and also 
brings the smaller plants more into view. United with the fore- 
going arrangement some are studious to mix all the different 
kinds as fully as possible, so that no two of a species, or of 
similar appearance, may come together, to produce variety ; this 
method has been severely criticised— 1 11 variety requires a certain 
degree of distinctness of character or feature, on which the eye 
can repose itself before proceeding to another; but where every 
thing is indistinctly mixed together, there can be no features, 
nothing on wffiich the eye can dwell with satisfaction, all is 
confounded and reduced to a mere chaos of forms and colours.” 
Others recommend, that “ each genus and species be kept by 
itself or where a number bear a striking natural resemblance, 
as for instance Pelargoniums , Roses , Camellia, &c., the whole 
be grouped together, not in a formal manner, but so as to show a 
sort of relationship, or connexion. By keeping plants together, 
it is not meant to keep them in contact, in a compact clump, but 
to place them in visible connexion, in irregular groups, which is 
quite consistent w'ith placing the tallest plants of the group on 
the upper part of the stage, and the lesser plants nearer the 
spectator. It is sufficient that the connexion of the species be 
recognised by the eye, and that there appear in the green-house 
what there always is in natural scenery, something like a natural 
gradation, and blending of character in shrubs, trees, and herbs 
growing together.” But after all it is vain to laydown arbitrary 
rules where so much depends on circumstances ; as, for instance, 
the extent of the collection, the size of the plants, their adapta- 
tion to grouping, and a variety of other things, which must all 
be considered by the operator. 
Having arranged the plants to suit the taste, be careful to give 
them fresh air in abundance, more especially for the first few 
weeks, and during the warm days, which usually occur at this 
season. They will also require water in greater quantity than 
