228 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
WINTER MANAGEMENT OF PLANTS IN FRAMES. 
During that season when the beds and borders of the flower- 
garden have lost all or most of their beauty, the chief atten¬ 
tion of the cultivator is directed to the management of his house 
plants, and to the preservation of those which answer best in 
the open air during summer, but are unable to withstand the 
severities of a British winter without the chance of being alto¬ 
gether killed, or so weakened or destroyed as not to recover their 
natural vigour for a season or two; or jf they should do this, 
often remain unsightly objects. In extensive and complete es¬ 
tablishments there are allsorts of winter accommodation for plants 
whatever may be the degree of their delicacy. But among every 
hundred who love flowering plants, and cultivate them to some 
extent or other, there are not above two or three who possess, or 
are able to possess, all these accommodations : the greenhouse is 
in general the resource of such parties; but this is not always 
the best, and besides the management of it is attended with con¬ 
siderable trouble and some expense; and if it is intended to 
force some plants for winter ornament or for early flowering, 
and merely to keep others alive, it is difficult to accomplish 
both purposes in one small house. The forced flowers require 
more heat and light than the merely preserved ones, and though 
some difference may be obtained by placing the plants nearer to 
or farther from the glass, there is always some danger of pre¬ 
maturely starting those wished to be preserved. Light being the 
grand stimulus to the flowering of plants must joe freely admitted 
to such as are forced into flower during the winter or early 
spring ; and if, as is generally the case, the plants are natives 
of more tropical climates than that of Europe, and consequently 
having longer winter days, the difficulty, especially in damp and 
humid districts, where the air is almost continually obscured by, 
clouds and fogs, the great difficulty is in obtaining sufficient 
light for winter forcing. 
This points out a difference which should be observed in the 
treatment of half-hardy plants. If they are to be forced into 
