20 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
In the Flower-Garden little can be done, except in main¬ 
taining a thorough neatness, a point which cannot be neglected 
with impunity at any season. If the beds are filled with ever¬ 
greens in the manner which has been recommended, either cut 
or in pots, the same neatness must be aimed at, or the garden 
will look worse when filled by such means than if the beds 
were empty, and merely raked smooth. 
The Greenhouse, at this season the most interesting part of 
the garden, requires particular attention as regards temperature 
and moisture. Any excess of either will be highly detrimental: 
a temperature ranging between 40° and 50° is the most de¬ 
sirable; but moisture must be very sparingly applied, as it is 
always observed that a damp greenhouse is adapted to com¬ 
paratively few species of plants. The admission of air should 
always be liberal, whenever external circumstances allow, care 
being taken to maintain the average temperature of the house, 
by the application of fire-heat, if necessary. The modification 
of these directions, to the safe keeping of plants in pits or other 
structures will be easy to the merest tyro. 
In the management of the Stove the above hints must not 
be lost sight of; for although a greater heat must be maintained 
(from a minimum of 50° by night to a maximum of 65° by 
day), still this temperature is not sufficient to allow a very free 
use of water, without the risk of bad consequences. Even the 
orchidaceous house, in which moisture may be most freely 
applied, must now be kept comparatively dry; and if any of 
the plants should commence growing, they must be moved to 
the warmest and dampest part of the house, thus giving them 
individually all the assistance compatible with the health of the 
collection, as a whole. For, it should be borne in mind, that 
orchidaceous plants in their native habitats generally make 
their growth in the wet season, and flower in the drier periods 
of the year, when the greater heat and dryness are more 
favourable to the ripening and dispersion of their seeds. 
D. M. 
