WHAT FLOWERS WILL GROW IN THE SHADE ? 243 



such would particularly be the case with plants of a half- 

 hardy nature, such as monthly Roses, Carnations, Fuch- 

 sias, etc. 



In our green-house culture of flowers, direct sunlight is 

 an all important consideration; and a spell of sunless 

 weather in midwinter is often a loss to us of hundreds of 

 dollars by preventing the development of flowers. Hence, 

 we use every means at command to dispose the plants to 

 secure the greatest amount of light. 



The debilitating effects of want of direct light on 

 plants are well illustrated by taking a vigorous plant in 

 full foliage and flower, that has been growing in the direct 

 light of our green-house benches, and placing it under the 

 bench. If the temperature is high say 70 in 48 hours, 

 the sickly signs, showing want of light, will be apparent 

 to an experienced eye ; in a week its condition would be 

 such as to indicate sickness to the most common observer, 

 and in a month it would most likely be dead. 



In this respect there is some analogy between plant and 

 animal life, and it teaches us the importance of light for 

 our own healthy development. Certain it is that our 

 green-house and garden operatives will compare favorably 

 with any other class of workmen, as far as health is con- 

 cerned. In the past twenty years I have had an average 

 of thirty workmen daily. During that time but one has 

 died, and two only have been seriously sick, and some 

 three or four veterans who are growing gray in the ser- 

 vice, have never lost an hour by sickness. I doubt if it 

 would be easy to find the same number of workmen em- 

 ployed out of the sunlight, who could show such health 

 as these sunbrowned boys of ours. 



