Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-02-19
From the American Gardeners Magazine.
PI. A N II s.

Theodore Lyman, Jr., VdHhdm.
GrNTLEMEN
AMIDST the rigors Of stern winter, how |
delightful it is to exhale the balmy odors of
a few select plants; even the lovely blush |
of the expanded rose, when the whole face |
of nature is clad in a mantle of snow.
might entice the most careless admirers Of
Flora to supply their parlors with these de-
lightful barbngers Of pleasure through |
the winter months. But in all the numbers
of your valuable Magazine, I have meyer
observed any hints on the management of
greenhouse plants kept in rooms or par
iors. In order to supply this deficiency, |
have, in as brief manner as possible, en-.
deavored to give few remarks, which
may not perhaps, be unimportant. You
are aware that 1t would require too much
room TO enter into a minute detail, and
enumeraie great number of species and
varieties, with the modes of propagation;
shall, therefore, confine my remarks to
those kinds most generally grown in such
situations.
In the frs, place, shall trea, on the
proper soils, and the polllng or shifting Of
the Enthusiastically. how to arrange thu
plants on the stages or IN the windows;-
thirdly on the watering Of the pianist
fourlhv and lastly how to destroy insects
that NAV annoy them
bali now begi1 by considering the
plants procured from friend, or purchased
rom the nurseryman or scotsman, and
take the first part of the subject, namely,
soils and pottng. | may here merely men.
lion that all the soft wooded kinds will do
very well in good rich loan with guam.
titv Of vegetable mould or decayed tree
leaves q would strongly recommend that a
quantity Of vegetable mould be kept in
store, as it will suit almost every variety of
plant; the same may be said of myrIes,
oranges, lemons, .4ucuba iaponca, Verbena
tryphyla AloySla cltriodora &c., but not
quite so light; the most part Of the shrub
by, or hard wooded kinds. such as ericas
or healhs, &c., like peat soil, with good
quantity of white sand well mixed; two or
three inches of the surface of the soil from
an old oak wood will answer the purpose
very well. There are some persons that
think there is as'a,ed time for potting or
shifting plants. This is an error. There
never ought to be any particular time; it
ought to depend great deal on the state
health and growth. Some plants may re.
quire shifting twice or thrice a year; Others
but once; the best way to ascertain wheth.
err plant should be shifted, Is TO turn i,
carefully out of the pot. and examine if the
roots are matted about the sides and bot
tom of the ball, and if such is the case, the
plants evidently require fresh pottng. But
it is not always necessary to put plants IN
to pots or tubs larger than those they were
taken from; if that were always done, they
would soon get out of all bounds The bal
may, with propr'ety. be reduced, perhaps
to halls OF third its former bulk. In pre-
pairing pots. be sure to put a handful o
potshreds or bricks broken up small, it
the b,tton, Of each; then put as much sol
as will raise the surface OF the ball to with
IN about an zach of the bfim; then plac,
the plant exactly in the centre, and with
small wedge shaped stick, fill 10 The sol
between the ball and the sides of the pot
being careful that no cavity is left; the sol
should be filled to within half an inch o
the brm of middle sized pot if yer,
large pot, an inch should be left for water
BY m means heap the pot with soil. as il
too often done. especially by the ladies'
Alter the plants are potted. they shout,
have a gentle watering, and be kept frou
the midday sun for two or three days.
arranging The plants on The stages or /,
the ,cindows When a table is allotted fo
the plants, lie, it be placed as near the win
dow as possible; place the smallest one.
next to tie glass, and so on with the seconc
and third sizes, finishing with the TALES
back so that they may all have an equa
share of the sun and air;--by no mean.
ba IF hn
mentioned But some of your far reader.
may observe, that the beauty ofthe plant,
will be hidden from their visitors. especial
" those who prefer show to the health o
their plants. This Inconvenience may bt
avoided by having small stages made to fl
the windows, placing them on cast ors, tina
they may be turned so as to view the plants
or draw back in very hot sunshine.
should think there would be no lover Of
plants but would 90 to trihlng expense r
order to have them look well. Observe tc
give air every day, except in very severe
fross.
The ,oatering of The plants.-The follow
ing question has becn'often put to me-
How often should plants be watered? Ii
answer to the question | would observe
that there never ought to be any state,
time, but when they are in want of it; an,
that want they will generally make know
themselves, by the dropping of their leaves
in hot weather, they should be looked owe
at least once, if moi twice, day, and a
these times only to water those that are il
want of 1t. am of the belief, that on
half of parlor plants are killed or slckene
either by Withholding water, or making to
frequent use of It; by the former, the plant
will soon begin To .ose their leaves, and b
the latter, the soil will be kept saturated
and the roots become rotten, which mus
cause the death Of the plants. There
anothe. evil, practiseG by the ladies', whic
Twill mention; that is, having the plant
IN saucers. and watering them at the roots
this is a practice that cannot be too strong