48 



before air is admitted. A somewhat higher range may 

 be permitted, as the days lengthen, and the influence of 

 the sun becomes more powerful ; thus at night, it should 

 not rise over 65, by day 75 to 80, and by sun heat to 

 90. Thus it will be seen, that I have recommended the 

 regulation of the temperature of the internal atmosphere, 

 by that which is external ; and it is my firm conviction 

 that inattention to this simple rule, is the source of 

 much of the failure, which is experienced by some of 

 those who attempt the growth of plants, at any other 

 than that, which may be regarded as their natural season 

 of growth. It appears to me, most unreasonable, to aim 

 at attaining any particular point of the thermometer, 

 merely because any particular season of the year may be 

 present, or any particular stage of growth attained. Even 

 if in the sunny climes, from whence the Cucumber has 

 been transmitted to us, there exists such an equality of 

 temperature and atmospheric serenity, as some cultivators 

 attempt in the growth of these plants ; it surely cannot 

 be consistent in us to equalize and elevate the temperature 

 of our artificial atmospheres, when we cannot supply them 

 at the same time with the same intensity of light, or 

 provide for them the same serene and unclouded sky. 

 It should rather be our object to adapt the plant to the 

 climate of our country, since we cannot change the cli- 

 mate to supply the natural circumstances, with which 

 the plant is favoured ; and acting on this principle, we 

 should never aim at supplying the agents which would 

 induce a premature and therefore debilitated develope- 

 ment, when the whistling wind, and the drifting snow, 

 tell us that Nature, would have, at least the members of 

 her vegetable kingdom, be at rest. 



Since however, it is apparent that during the depth of 

 the winter season, at least when wintry weather is present, 

 the progress of plants in an artificially heated atmosphere, 

 ought not to be rapid, or unduly forced ; it by no means. 



