47 



mitted, cannot within reasonable limits, be permitted to 

 rise too high; whilst at other times, when the weather is 

 dull, or cloudy, and always at night, a much lower degree 

 of heat ought to be applied. In sunny weather, the 

 natural agents which cause excitement and activity of the 

 vital functions, are in full action; and consequently at 

 such periods we may rationally indulge in the application 

 of those exciting agents which are under our controul 

 always however bearing in mind, that we must not un- 

 duly apply one agent, when we either cannot, or neglect 

 to apply the others also. On the other hand, in dull 

 weather, and at night, the source of light being in the 

 one case absent, in the other obscured, a comparative 

 state of lethargy or repose is prevalent, and the natural 

 functions of vitality are but feeble in their action, if not 

 in some cases, absolutely in a quiescent state; with such 

 a state of things existing, it is barely rational to apply 

 stimulants, and to induce unnatural excitement. The 

 .application of exciting and stimulating agents at such 

 periods, may be compared in its effects to the excitement 

 of a frightful dream acting on the human frame ; the 

 vital functions not the vitality itself cease during sleep, 

 and both the animal and the vegetable should be at rest; 

 excitement acts on both by deranging the system, at least 

 for a time, and since a succession of these derangements 

 are known to produce injurious results, we may be cer- 

 tain, that each seperate instance must have an evil ten- 

 dency. 



In applying this practically, to the case before us, it 

 may be recommended, that the temperature in which 

 Cucumbers are grown during winter, should not fall much 

 below 60 Fahrenheit, at night ; and in the day time it 

 should not rise above 70 in dull weather, by the aid of 

 heat artificially applied; in clear weather, by the in- 

 fluence of that glorious source of light and heat, the sun, 

 it may be safely allowed to rise to 80, or a little higher, 



