G7G GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



§ 5.— Culture of Flowers under Glass. 



C124. When the driving ice-sleet batters against the window, enwrapping: 

 snow-wreaths darken the roofs of our glass-houses, and all external vegetation, 

 is enfolded in the drowsiness of November fogs, then our foresight, cultural 

 skill, and inventive genius, have their reward in creating a scene of almost 

 summer beauty. Under such adverse circumstances, the transition from the 

 external to the internal world — from out of doors to under glass — is no less 

 grateful than the contrast is striking. There is the darkest gloom of winter ; 

 here is the cheerfulness of summer. There is the leaden grey of dreary mist, 

 and the bare outUnes of bald trees ; here is a genial atmosphere, and colours 

 vying with the rainbow in brilliance and beauty. Outside, the air seems a 

 mixture of soot, dust, and water, and is loaded with the stench of decaying 

 leaves and other vegetable matter; inside we revel in the perfumes of 

 mignonette, roses, heliotropes, and perhaps winter-flowering carnations. 

 The difference between the outside and in being now so great, the less 

 communication there is between them during the month the better. During 

 the continuance of characteristic November weather, every glass-house 

 should be looked upon and managed as a huge Wardian case, whose first 

 and primary use, under such circumstances, is to keep Noveraher out- 

 side, while %oe, the proprietors, are enabled to enjoy spring, summer, or 

 autumn, at our pleasure, inside. It is the height of stupidity and folly to 

 allow a November fog to inundate a conservatory under the pretence oigi'cin§ 

 air. Such air is as little wanted by the plants as by those who come thero 

 to enjoy them, and is equally inimical to the health and well-being of all 

 concerned. This is emphatically the dead season. Plants under glass, though 

 in the best possible health, would rather sleep just now than gi-ow ; and if a 

 dry atmosphere and rather a low temperature is maintained, houses may be 

 kept shut up close for a fortnight or three weeks together, not only with per- 

 fect impunity, but with positive benefit to the plants ; but this supposes that 

 the external atmosphere is ungenial. This, however, is not always the case. 

 Embrace every opportunity of admitting the external air to conservatories 

 and greenhouses when it is of a temperature of 45° ; also change the air of 

 stoves, &c., during the few hours of sunshine that often come to chase away 

 even a November fog. In fine, the more fresh air the better, provided it be 

 warm and genial ; — the less the better when it is otherwise. Plants will live 

 and thrive for weeks in the same atmosphere, when adverse circumstances 

 render a change dangerous, and they will bear this treatment bettSr now than 

 during any other season of the year ; and yet, as a general rule, the more 

 fresh air the better. 



21 25. As the quantity of external air admitted may now be safely reduced 

 to its minimum, so may also be the quantity of water. The fact is, the power 

 of a plant to use water to any good purpose chiefly depends upon the intensity 

 of light and heat to which it is exposed. When these agencies exert their 



