THE 



GARDENER. 



NOVEMBER 1873. 



HINTS FOR THE 'WIITTER, &c. 



HARD winter and dear coals : the former of these con- 

 ditions is possible ; the latter, judging from the present 

 aspect of the coal trade, is certain. The combination is 

 of a character that must of necessity swell the cost-book 

 of all who have to protect tender plants and fruits from frost, 

 especially of those who have to "force early," and keep tropical 

 plants in good condition. How to accomplish this with the least 

 waste of heat consistent with success was never a question of more 

 importance than it is now ; at least not since the railroad made 

 coals more comeatable, and consequently lowered their price in many 

 parts of the kingdom. The question is one which of necessity affects 

 a very numerous class, and especially amateurs who have — more from 

 their ardent love of hothouse and greenhouse plants — been impelled 

 into their culture without, at the same time, having a wide margin of 

 wealth to make them indifferent to or independent of a few pounds 

 more or less spent on coals. Hence we conclude that any hints which 

 may be of use to a class who constitute a large number of our readers, 

 cannot be uninteresting at this season, with the prospect of dear coals 

 and the possibility of a hard winter. 



Among the principles of culture which bear favourably on economy 

 in this point, stands somewhat prominently that of low night tempera- 

 ture, which has lately been very ably discussed by several of our corres- 

 pondents. If this principle be correct at any season of the year, the next 

 four months — which constitute the season of rest to most plants — is 



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