Oxalis Bowei and versicolor. Lachenalia tricolor. Sparaxis tricolor and grandiflora. Tritonia palida, crispa, and squalida. Ixia patens, viridiflora, aristata, and crocata. Watsonia fulgida. Hypoxis elegans.

Green-house plants are chiefly kept in pots or tubs for moving them into shelter in winter, and into the open air in summer; for being all exotics from warmer parts of the world, they are not able to live in the open air in the winter.

Most of them will prosper in any good rich garden earth. Some sorts, however, require a particular compost. As to the pots and tubs to contain the plants, they must be of different sizes, according to that of the plants; and when these become too large for pots, they must be shifted into tubs, hooped with iron, and with handles at top to each, of the same metal. See Flower Pots and Potting.

Removing Into The Open Air

All the sorts succeed in the open air from May or beginning of June until October; but from October until May or June again they require the shelter of the greenhouse. The varieties of Myrtle, Geranium, Oleander, Cistus, Phlomis, Shrubby Aster, Tree Wormwood, Tree Candy Tuft, Yellow Indian and Spanish Jasmines, Indian Bay, are the first that will bear removal into the air; and in June, accordingly as the season proves more or less favourable, bring forth all the others. But this should not be done until there is a fair prospect of summer being settled.

It is a good observation that when the Mulberry tree begins to expand its leaves this is a certain sign of the approach of summer, and settled weather fit to begin moving out most sorts of green-house exotics. A mild warm day should be chosen for this work, and if during a warm rain it will be of much advantage, as it will wash the leaves and branches, and greatly refresh the plants.

When they are first brought out it is proper to place the plants in some sheltered sunny place for a fortnight, till they are inured to the open air, and then in any open exposure, where they are designed to remain for the summer.

As soon as they are brought out let them be cleared from dead leaves and dead wood, and let the earth on the surface of the pots be stirred, taking a little of the old out and adding some fresh in its stead; then give a moderate watering, not only to the soil but also over the heads of the plants. Supply them with water during that season, in hot dry weather. All except the succulent will require it three times a week at least, and in a very hot dry season once a day will be requisite. The succulent kinds must also have a moderate supply of water twice a week in dry weather, observing that the proper time of the day for watering all the sorts at this season is either in a morning before nine o'clock, or in the afternoon after four or five. Moderate rains should not deter from watering, especially such plants as have spreading heads, as these prevent the rains, unless very heavy or constant, from falling in sufficient quantities on the earth of the pots to moisten it properly. In hot weather, if some mowings of short grass, or moss, which is neater, are spread on the surface of the Orange Tree tubs and others, it will greatly preserve the moisture.

During the season loosen the surface of the earth occasionally.

Removing Into The Green-House

Towards the latter end of September, or as soon as the nights become cold, begin to return into the green-house the more tender kinds, and especially the succulents should be removed to shelter at the first approach of excessive wet and cold nights.

The Oranges, Lemons, and all the other species of Citrus, should also be moved into shelter in due time, either at the end of September or early in October.

Continue moving in the others as the cold increases, and by the end of the month or first week of November bring in the whole collection; observing, according as the time approaches for moving in the different sorts, to clear them perfectly well from decayed leaves, etc, and let all the pots be well cleaned, and loosen the surface of the earth in each pot, adding a little fresh soil. Their principal culture now will be, supplying them with fresh air at all opportunities in mild weather, and giving moderate waterings occasionally, picking off decayed leaves as often as they appear, and making moderate fires in severe or foggy weather.

When the plants are first housed, they should have as much free air as the nature of the season will admit, by opening the windows every mild day to their full extent; and if the air is quite temperate, they may remain open at nights for the first week: but in cold nights let them be constantly shut. This work of admitting air must be attended to all winter.

The proper time of day, during the winter, for admission of air is from about eight, nine, or ten in the morning till three in the evening, according to the mildness of the weather; but as the days lengthen and the warmer season advances, give more air in proportion earlier and later in the day, as you shall judge proper, being careful always to shut all close every evening as soon as the sharp air approaches. In foggy weather it is advisable to keep the windows quite close, for the great damp occasioned by fogs is very pernicious to plants whilst they are confined in the house; likewise in frosty weather keep the house close, unless the frost is moderate, and the middle of the day sunny and warm, when some of the windows may be opened a little, but shut close again if the sun is clouded. In severe weather let the shutters also be closed every night, and occasionally in severe days, and be particularly careful to water with great moderation whilst the plants remain in the greenhouse.

A sunny day from about eleven to two o'clock, is then the proper time for watering. (Abereombie).

See January and other months for the routine work.