CHAPTER XLVII 



THIRD WEEK IN DECEMBER 



THE summer flowers are over, and at this time of year 

 furnishing plants are more than ever needed, as our 

 cut flowers become scarce. 



Very tempting are the winter heaths (Erica hyemalis), cycla- 

 men, and other flowers which are now sold by hundreds in our 

 streets ; but without knowledge of their special needs it is 

 not easy to keep them in good health, and a drooping or 

 dying plant is far worse than none. Where gas is burned 

 it is not possible to induce blossoms to open, for the sul- 

 phurous fumes of this light are very injurious ; but even in 

 this case it may be possible to find a safe shelter for a heath 

 or a delicate fern in the greenhouse, or in the moist atmo- 

 sphere of a bathroom, in which the hot water can be turned 

 on for a few minutes to soften the air when the plants are 

 placed in it ; doing this before the gas is lit, and allowing 

 them to stay in the bathroom until the sitting-rooms are 

 thoroughly aired in the morning. 



Plants which have been forced into early bloom seldom 

 do well in a room, where the dry air is very trying to 

 them, to say nothing of the chilling draughts of the early 

 morning, when doors and windows are necessarily left open 

 whilst the rooms are brushed out. It is difficult for those 

 who come down (an hour or two later) to a warm room 

 with a cheerful fire to realise the arctic temperature which 

 reigned there at seven o'clock ; but many a cherished plant 

 droops and dies from this little suspected cause alone. 

 Where a night refuge cannot be found for our plants in a 

 greenhouse or a bathroom, the best substitute for it is 



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