FEBRUARY. 
43 
as recommended last month, will be still of r 
great benefit so long as the nights are frosty, 1 
for otherwise in frosts of great intensity, so ! 
common this winter, rendering a great i 
amount of fire heat absolutely necessary to 
maintain the lowest indispensable tempera¬ 
ture, an excessive degree of dryness in the air 
of the house must result. It should be borne in 
mind that cold glass is a rapid condenser of the 
moisture existing in the enclosed atmosphere, 
and the colder the glass and warmer the air, 
the more rapidly and completely is the mois¬ 
ture abstracted from the air by which the 
plants are surrounded. Few plants, except 
some such as Cacti, can long remain in health 
in a hot atmosphere deprived of its natural 
moisture. 
GREENHOUSE. 
It is almost needless to caution those who 
have had their hot-water pipes burst by the 
late intense frost, to be careful that such oc¬ 
currence do not again take place. The great 
trouble, expense, and inconvenience which 
this mishap occasions will not readily escape 
recollection. To make sure, it is better to 
err on the safe side, and see that the water in 
pipes for the coolest greenhouse may not fall 
below 40° in frosty weather; then if by acci¬ 
dent the fire should go out there will still be 
no danger irom freezing, nor will the inmates 
be over-excited by such an amount of heat. 
Look over the plants regularly to see that 
none are in want of water, but avoid giving- 
now or at any time water that is colder than 
the air of the house; let it rather bo 2° 
warmer. The temperature may be 45° or 50° 
in the day, and with sun it may be allowed 
to rise to 55°. The sun may be strong- 
enough to raise it much higher ; in that case 
take the opportunity of giving plenty of air, 
but shut up the house in good time, so as to 
economise as much solar heat as possible, 
without stimulating the plants beyond what 
would be proper; for by so doing less fire 
heat will be required, compared with which 
sun heat is not only cheaper, but vastly 
superior as regards the constitution of the 
plants. Plants of a succulent nature, such 
as Cacti and Kalosanthes, should be kept at 
the driest part of the house, where as much 
sunlight can reach them as can be obtained. 
The glass should be kept clear of any accu¬ 
mulation of soot or smoke. Of water these 
plants will require but little ; give none but 
when they are dry. Leschenaultias, Boronias, 
and Crowea saligna should be placed at the 
warmest end of the house if a warm green¬ 
house is not at command for such plants, 
as well as others that may be wanted to bloom 
early, such as Acacias, Kennedyas, Hoveas, 
Pimeleas, &c. Azaleas for early flowering 
may be introduced into a peach-house, and 
afterwards, as they will bear an increased 
temperature, into a vinery at work. Cine¬ 
rarias .—The utmost vigilance will be ne¬ 
cessary to prevent the attacks of green fly. 
This pest should receive no quarter. Fumiga¬ 
tion must be frequently repeated. Occa¬ 
sionally they may be treated with a dose of 
snuff or tobacco dust. Ericas must be 
closely watched and most carefully attended 
to as regards temperature, air, and water. 
Those sorts that are commencing growth may 
receive more water than those that are not; 
and air must be given, so as to carry off all 
moisture that would otherwise be stagnant. 
Apply sulphur for the prevention of mildew, 
and keep the house very clean, and tree from 
all decaying substances. 
CONSERVATORY. 
Whilst there is little gaiety from plants 
out of doors, those in the conservatory should 
be arranged to produce the best effect. There 
should be in flower forced Camellias, Chinese 
and hardy Azaleas, Poses, Deutzias, Honey¬ 
suckles, Orange trees in fruit and showing 
flower, Persian Lilacs, Ja^minums, Chimo- 
nanthus fragrans,^ &c. "With these may be 
introduced with good effect Pichardia aethio- 
pica, Chinese Primulas, Hyacinths, Narcissi, 
Jonquils, and Neapolitan and other Violets. 
With such plants an assemblage may be 
formed combining great beauty with delight¬ 
ful fragrance. It is needless to say that the 
display should be maintained by removing 
such as begin to get out of flower or in the 
least to fade, and these should be replaced by 
plants just coming into bloom. Prune, whilst 
the sap is comparatively at rest, the tops of 
all plants that require such to be done. See 
that there is a sufficient stock of sand, peat, 
and loam for shifting, and fresh dressing, 
which operations will have to be very gene¬ 
rally performed in this and the following 
month, 
PITS AND FRAMES. 
These are convenient for many very use¬ 
ful purposes, and they should be variously 
constructed for affording different tempera¬ 
tures and degrees of moisture. Those for 
bedding plants should with only moderate 
temperature have a full command of air, 
! which should be given at all favourable 
opportunities when the weather will permit, 
; in order to drive off damp, but in doing this 
the temperature must not be allowed to get 
. so low as to check all movement of the sap ; 
■ therefore gentle heat must be supplied to 
3 maintain the temperature of the air of the 
t frame sufficiently high for this purpose in 
, cold weather, and at times a little above the 
3 temperature of the external air. If, occasion- 
- ally, this should get suddenly higher than 
, the interior of the pit, and consequently 
i higher than that of plants it contains—if 
, this should happen, moisture will be deposited 
* on the foliage, and damping off, so much to 
1 be dreaded, is likely to be the consequence. 
i FORCING. 
Vines that are now to be started may be 
- allowed a somewhat higher temperature than 
-. those of which the forcing was commenced 
