CHAPTER VI. 
WINDOW GARDENING, AND THE MANAGEMENT OF PLANTS 
IN POTS IN SMALL GREEN-HOUSES. 
The management of plants in rooms is extremely difficult, from the 
want of proper light and moist air: though this latter want may, in 
some measure, be obviated, by opening the window in front of which 
the plants stand, whenever circumstances will permit. It should 
never be forgotten that moist air is almost as essential to plants as 
water ; ard that they are seriously injured by being forced to inspire 
air at their breathing pores that is in too dry a state for them. I have 
often observed the healthy appearance of plants belonging to cot- 
tagers; and I believe it arises principally from the habit that most 
poor people have, of setting their plants out in the rain whenever 
there is ashower. This not only clears the leaves of dust, and opens 
the stomata or breathing pores, but gives the plant abundance of 
fresh air. Without a sufficiency of air and light, plants will soon 
become weak and sickly, and their leaves will turn yellow; but if a 
little fresh ai ‘be given to them every day when the temperature is 
not too co they will grow nearly as well in a room as in a green- 
house. 
Another reason why plants kept in rooms are generally unhealthy, 
is, that they are watered in a very irregular manner. Sometimes 
they are suffered to become so dry that the mould in which they 
grow will crumble under the pressure of the finger, and the spongi- 
oles of the roots are quite withered; and then a profusion of water 
is given to them, quite cold from the pump, though they have pro- 
bably been standing in a temperature of from 60° to 70°. Asa 
"limax, part of this water is suffered to remain in the saucer for a 
