32 PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE. 



to the nature of a matured plant exists even to a greater 

 extent than it does with the seed ; and one of the main 

 causes of want of success in cultivating plants under glass 

 is a want of knowledge, or from carelessness in keeping a 

 temperature unsuited to the growth of the plants. In 

 ordinary green-house collections the fault is oftener in the 

 temperature being kept too high than too low, for it is 

 much easier, requiring far less watchfulness by the person 

 in charge to keep up a high temperature. The injury 

 done by this is gradual, and will not, like the action of 

 frost on the plants, show in the morning. In consequence 

 of this, we often see the green-houses containing Camel- 

 lias, Azaleas, Pelargoniums, Carnations, etc., etc., swelter- 

 ing under a continued night temperature of 60 or 65, 

 when their nature demands 20 lower. 



It is true, we too often see collections of hot-house and 

 green-house plants intermingled, and attempts made to 

 grow them,. which, of necessity, result in failure to one or 

 the other. The temperature to grow, in healthy condition, 

 Coleus, Bouvardia, or Poinsettia (hot-house plants) would 

 not be likely to maintain Verbenas, Carnations, or Gerani- 

 ums long in a healthy state. The same rules follow as to 

 the propagating-house, showing the necessity, even in a 

 greater degree, of observing the requirements of their differ- 

 ent natures. Coleus, Bouvardia, Begonia, and Lantana root 

 in a bottom heat of 75, with atmospheric temperature of 

 65, in ten days ; at 20 lower they will not root at all, 

 but will perish. Although cuttings of plants of a more 

 hardy nature will root in some conditions of growth at 

 this temperature, yet we prefer, to insure plants of vigor- 

 ous health, that Verbenas, Carnations, Geraniums, Roses, 

 etc., be rooted in a temperature at least 15 lower, both 

 in the bottom heat and temperature of the house. 



The subject is one that relates to so many varieties and 

 different conditions of organism at the different seasons 

 of growth, that it is impossible to convey to the inexperi- 



