150 VINES 
water at the roots to keep the plants from 
shrivelling. 
By taking advantage of the alternation of 
seasons and the associated water supply, the 
flowering of these tropical plants can be governed 
to a certain extent. The natural growing season 
is from March to September, the other months 
being ‘‘dry.”’ While we are unable to completely 
reverse these periods, we can dry off the plants 
in July and start them into growth again in 
December, thus gaining three months over 
nature — often a most desirable gain in the case 
of plants having conspicuously beautiful flowers. 
For our purpose, the tender vines are divided 
into two horticultural groups: first, those that 
require what is known as a “stove,” or tropical 
house; and second, those that will thrive in the 
cool greenhouse. In the tropical house, a high 
temperature is maintained at all times, the heat, 
during the growing season, never falling below 65° 
at night with a rise of seven to eight degrees on 
dull days, and of ten to twenty degrees on sunny 
days, when the house can be freely ventilated. 
All tropical plants should be shaded during 
the summer, except where noted; not that the 
sun will burn them, but the shading helps to 
maintain the atmospheric conditions on a more 
