Page:The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory.djvu/275

Rh to soften the ball of earth, and allow water to pass through freely. When this is not done in spring, it often happens that, having once got dry, the water never afterwards wets the roots properly, but runs away down the sides of the pots, and after languishing some time, the plants die altogether. Get all store plants from cutting pans and boxes potted off. Start old plants of bedders to get cuttings, and put in cuttings as soon as they can be taken, to have the bedders forward in time to plant out strong. With the rise of the thermometer there will be an increase of green fly, and plants with soft leaves will be attacked first. Look to the under sides of the leaves of the cinerarias, calceolarias, pelargoniums, &c., and, if any fly, put the plants together in a box and fumigate, or fill the house with smoke, and syringe next day. All hard-wooded plants coming into leaf to be freely syringed. Temp. 45° at night, 55° to 60° by day. Bottom-heat for cuttings, 60° to 70°.

.&mdash;Plants in bloom will require careful management on account of the drying and trying east winds and bright sunshine which occasionally occur at this time. Shading will be of great service in these cases, and if the walks and beds are frequently sprinkled there will be a genial moist atmosphere in the house when the air outside is filled with “March dust.” This is a busy time with plant growers, and there must be no delay in shifting on all subjects that require increased root-room, for vegetation is now becoming active, and if plants make new roots in old exhausted soil it impairs their vigour and deteriorates their beauty. Pot Cape bulbs, liliums, gladioli; shift ericas; start fuchsias, and take cuttings. Camellias done flowering to be started into growth in a moist atmosphere and genial temperature. Give plenty of water, alternating with liquid manure, to pelargoniums, calceolarias, cinerarias, and other subjects advancing into bloom. Temp. 50° night, 60° to 65° day.

.&mdash;General collections should only have a moderate heat, and a strong healthy growth should be promoted by giving plenty of air, with a view to putting out the fires for the season. Many specimen plants will want liberal shifts, and all subjects not immediately required in flower should be regularly and frequently stopped, to induce bushy growth and form