Page:The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory.djvu/280

262

.Chrysanthemums will keep the house gay till after Christmas, when the first lot of forced shrubs, especially azaleas, will come in to take their place. In the conservatory, whatever flowers are at command may be made the most of by judiciously intermixing with them good plants of yucca, acacia lophantha, camellias, and others possessing characteristic foliage. Hard-wooded plants in the greenhouse must have as much air as the weather will allow, and as little water as possible, as we may soon expect severe frosts. The thermometer should not descend below 38°. Soft-wooded plants will be subject to mildew if the house is at all damp, and must have fire-heat during foggy as well as during frosty weather. Shift any specimen plants that are in need of increased root-room. Ericas must have air at every opportunity, and if forced with other flowering shrubs, must have the coolest place in the forcing-pit, and be very gently stimulated. Greenhouse temperature, 40° to 45°.