ern tribe. It will also
stand gas pretty well, if not shut up for the night in an atmosphere
charged with it, and this is the case with many room plants; they
=strongly object to being left to spend the night in the impure air=,
though a few hours each evening will not do them much harm. The plan of
taking them out at bed-time also prevents so much dust accumulating on
their leaves, an inevitable drawback where a room is thoroughly swept and
dusted.

=Always endeavour to keep your plants well balanced.= In a room, it is
impossible to do this, without constantly turning the pots round, so that
all parts may get the light. In summer, this has to be attended to nearly
every day, but in winter less often, as the sun is, of course, much less
powerful.

As regards =re-potting=, great care must be exercised, or more harm than
good will result. Palms will grow for years in quite small pots, and do
not thrive if over-potted. On the other hand, some plants require it
annually, but, seldom or often, unless for some special reason,
=re-potting should always be done in the spring=. From the beginning of
February until the end of May, a plant may safely be shifted on, as it is
called, because all these months comprise the growing season, when fresh
roots are emitted and new leaves being produced almost daily. See that the
pot is perfectly clean and dry, and the soil in a friable condition; it
should be composed of peat, loam and sand in equal parts; a little leaf
mould, where it is for a fern proper, will be beneficial. A =potting soil=
ready prepared may be had for about a shilling a peck from any seedsman,
which saves time and trouble in mixing. Be sure to put clean crocks in at
the bottom, or the soil will become sour. Shake the pot every now and
again as you fill it up, to ensure no crevices being left; =loose potting=
has caused the death of many a fine plant. When the pot is full, press the
mould down, leaving from half an inch to an inch (according to the size)
bare of soil to the rim of the pot, to allow of watering. It is well to
put a layer, about half an inch thick, of cocoa-nut fibre on the top of
the soil, as this looks neat, and serves to show off the foliage to the
best advantage. Enough of the fibre to cover several dozen pots may be had
for threepence. Guano is good, if supplied to the plants during the warmer
months of the year. The proportions of guano to water can always be seen
on the label pasted on the outside