The Garden Under Glass

HOUSING AND ARRANGING PLANTS 251 unworthy plants thrown away and their places filled with those in flower or progressing rapidly towards that stage. By dint of ingenuity it is generally possible to overcome the difficulty. Hints on Housing Plants The following rules may be taken as summarising the work of housing. If they be carried out the grower may safely congratulate himself on having done his duty (1) Close the house and fumigate it, while the foliage is dry; (2) sponge and syringe all plants and remove them to another house ; (3) stove the house by burning sulphur in it but only when it is absolutely empty and closed and when the fumes cannot get to an adjoining house ; (4) clear out stagings, shelves, shingle and all movables, also three inches of soil from the bottom ; (5) wash the house, glass, woodwork, ironwork, walls, pipes, and floor, also the outside of the house ; (6) repair glass, wood, iron, etc., and point walls ; (7) paint all wood, iron, piping, etc., and limewash walls ; (8) flood floor with hot water ; (9) wash stagings, etc., which were taken out and re-erect them ; (10) renew any that are unsound ; (11) wash shingle or put in fresh ; (12) put fresh soil or ashes on the floor ; (13) sponge again and return plants originally taken out; (14) grease ventilators and heating valves; (15) flush out heating typparatus and refill it, (16) examine air pipes and air taps, and look for leakages; (17) sponge plants to be brought in infested with pests ; (18) tie and stake if needed (19) clean off dead leaves ; (20) wash the pots ; (21) top-dress with Chemical plant manure ; (22) set plants fairly close, but do not overcrowd; (23) stage them evenly; (24) put shapeliest plants fronting the entrance; (25) fumigate the house when dry.