CALENDAR FOR JANUARY. 
19 
terres deserted, the inmates of our stoves and greenhouses afford 
us a cheering onward impulse, and seem as a link to connect the 
floral seasons of the past and the future. There is, however, 
but little scope for aught else than admiration of the beauties 
which, heedless of the dreariness around them, still blossom on : 
the operations on which this pleasing sensation is dependent are 
past, the flowers we now admire are the record of them, and 
faithful witnesses they are, attesting the degree both of our tact 
and our talent in the arts of cultivation. There is not perhaps a 
single feature in the cultivation of plants during the winter, in 
which the amateur is more likely to err, and by reason of which 
a greater amount of injury is occasioned, than in the application 
of water, either in its fluid or vaporous state : if applied directly 
to the soil in great quantities, the roots, being at this season in¬ 
active, are certain to sustain more or less of injury ; and if it is 
applied in excess to the atmosphere, in the form of vapour, the 
exhalations from the leaves of the plants will thereby be checked, 
in consequence of the density of the medium which surrounds 
them; in either case the plants will materially suffer. It is diffi¬ 
cult to give precise rules for the performance of operations such 
as this : as a general principle, however, with reference to plants 
in pots, no more ought to be given at the root than is sufficient 
to sustain the vital energy of the plant. And barely any more 
should be supplied to the atmosphere, than arises from the eva¬ 
poration troughs on the hot-water pipes : none should be applied 
by the syringe. A succession of forced flowers should be main¬ 
tained by introducing a few about once in a fortnight. Roses, 
Lilacs, Rhododendrons, &c., may be added now to the bulbs and 
herbaceous plants of last month. 
The temperature in all plant structures ought to be compara¬ 
tively low, in this department; from 60° to 65° by day, and from 
55° to 60° at night, will still be sufficient. 
Greenhouse. The foregoing rules respecting moisture apply 
here also, except that in the generality of cases, it is not advis¬ 
able to make so free use of evaporating troughs as in the stove, 
for, in consequence of the lower degree of temperature which is 
maintained, the atmosphere cannot hold so great an amount of 
aqueous matter, in a state inappreciable to the outward feelings. 
The management in both houses may be summed up thus :—- 
avoid the application of stimulants ; maintain, if possible, all pre- 
