THE 



GARDENER 



MARCH 1873. 



LOW NIGHT TEMPERATURE TN HOTHOUSES. 



RO^NI the letters whicli we Lave received asking for advice 

 as to lower night temperatures in forcing-houses since 

 J. S. directed attention to the subject in our December 

 issue, we are led to believe that there is at present a very- 

 considerable amount of interest on the part of the owners of hot- 

 houses in this important matter. Apart altogether from the sound- 

 ness of the practice viewed from a purely horticultural stand-point, no 

 doubt the present exceptionally high price of coal, with but slight 

 hopes of a fall to any considerable extent, is, from its eftects on the 

 pockets of many, prompting to inquiry as to the soundness of the 

 practice of keeping up the night temperatures which have been gener- 

 ally aimed at in our plant and fruit houses. Within certain limits, 

 there can scarcely be a question as to the wisdom of standing by the 

 theory of low night temperatures so ably advocated by some of the 

 physiologists of the last generation, and notably the late Dr Lindley, 

 whose mantle seems to be lost to the horticultural press. 



We have only to go to the school of nature to learn most unmistak- 

 ably, from the nocturnal fall of temperature, how erroneous is the 

 practice of hard firing to maintain high night temperature, even in the 

 case of those plants which in their native habitats are subject to the 

 most intense sun and the highest degree of tropical heat, and where 

 the variation between the sweltering heat of day and the chilliness of 

 night is most forcibly experienced. Some may perhaps be inclined to 

 tell us that nature is not now marching according to primeval law and 

 order in this as well as in other respects. This, however, would be 

 "drawing the subject a little too line" in reference to the case in 



