THE PROPER CONDITIONS 13 
dition of the atmosphere. This can be overcome toa 
great or complete extent by thorough ventilation 
and by keeping water constantly where it can 
evaporate; over radiators, etc. This should be 
done for the sake of your own health, if not for 
that of the plant. 
Further information as to watering and ventila- 
tion will be found in Chapter VII (page 45), but be- 
fore we get anxious about just how to take care of 
plants we must know how to get them, and before 
getting them we must know what to give them to 
grow in — the plant’s foundation. So fora little we 
must be content with those prosaic but altogether 
essential matters of soil, manures and fertilizers, 
which in the next chapter I shall try to make clear 
in as brief manner as possible. 
