382 THE FARMER AT HOME. 



that the apparent difference consists in this, that, in the latter case, 

 the light is between it and our eyes ; and, in the former, the light is 

 at our backs. 



SLEEP. That state wherein the body seems perfectly at rest, 

 and external objects act on the organs of sense, without exciting their 

 usual sensations. Sleep is necessary not only to animals, but even 

 some of the vegetable tribes have the faculty of assuming, during the 

 night, a position essentially different from that which they bear 

 throughout the day. This change takes place principally towards the 

 approach of night, in leaves and flowers ; the appearance of which 

 often varies so considerably, that the same plants can scarcely be 

 recognized. During the night, their leaves are observed to rise or 

 curl up, and sometimes to be pendent, according to the nature and 

 genus of the plant, in order to protect the flowers, buds, and young 

 stems. This periotl of rest is absolutely necessary to vegetables ; 

 their irritability being exhausted by the light and warmth of the 

 day. 



SLEEPING APARTMENTS. Every one, who is actuated by 

 a due regard for his health and real comfort, will consider an equal 

 degree of attention necessary in regard to the size, situation, tempera- 

 ture and cleanliness of the room he occupies during the hours of 

 repose, as of his parlor, drawing-room, or any other apartment ; and 

 yet, how often do we find families crowded at night into obscure and 

 confined chambers, of dimensions scarcely more ample than those of 

 an old fashioned closet, while perhaps, in most instances, the best 

 rooms in the house will be set aside for the sole purpose of ostentatious 

 display. It is all-important that the largest and most lofty room, 

 upon the second floor, be appropriated for the sleeping apartment, 

 and that it be freely ventilated, during the day time, at all seasons, 

 when the weather is not rainy, or otherwise very humid. There are 

 few houses, the rooms of which are so situated as to render the latter 

 impracticable ; and the influence of the practice upon the health of 

 the inmates is too important to permit its being neglected from any 

 slight cause. 



While too great a degree of caution cannot be observed to avoid 

 sleeping in damp rooms, beds, or clothing, the temperature of the bed- 

 chamber should, if possible, rie\*er be augmented, under the ordinary 

 circumstances of health, by artificial means. As this apartment is to 

 be reserved solely for repose, a fire is never necessary, excepting, per- 

 haps, during uncommonly severe weather ; and even then the tem- 

 perature ought not to exceed fifty degrees. A sleeping apartment, in 

 which a large fire has been kept up for several hours previous to the 

 period of retiring to rest, may to many, at the first view, present an 

 appearance of the most perfect comfort it is, however, at the same 

 time, a means of very effectually enervating the system creating an 

 increased susceptibility to the influence of cold, and thus opening the 



