74 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The food of a plant is derived partly (sometimes wholly) from 

 the air, in the form of moisture, and partly from the earth in the 

 form of soluble salts ; this food it elaborates by its own peculiar 

 organism and appropriates to its growth, and just in the propor- 

 tion that this food is furnished in suitable form and quantity for 

 such adaptation, will be the healthy growth of the plant. Plants, 

 too, have their seasons for feeding, and the supply of nutriment 

 must not only be sufficient in quality and quantity, but furnished 

 at the proper time. 



Light, generally direct sunlight, is important to the health of 

 plants ; comparatively few thrive in shade, and with most the 

 more light the stronger and more vigorous the growth. Plants 

 grow to the light, and withdrawn from it they strive to reach it, 

 and become wliat the gardeners call " drawn," that is, produce 

 long, weak growth, with leaves at long intervals, instead of the 

 short, stocky growth, which is in most plants a sign of health. 



"We thus have the essentials of health in the requisites of air, 

 cleanliness, and light. These properly provided, with judicious 

 waterings and suitable soil, success is certain. Let us, however, 

 consider these essentials somewhat in detail. 



Air. — We have said a vitiated atmosphere is unsuitable for 

 the healthy growth of plants, and such is the air of most parlors 

 and living rooms. Its life is dried out of it b}^ its passing over 

 the red hot iron of our furnaces and stoves. We can all remember 

 instances where plants do well in rooms heated by open wood 

 fires, the most healthy mode of heating a room, both for plants 

 and human beings. fSteam heat is better than that of furnaces or 

 stoves, as the air is less contaminated, and can be kept moister. 

 But it is not alone the dryness of the air that is injurious. From 

 all furnaces or stoves more or less gases escape and contaminate 

 the air, and where gas is used for illumination, a large percentage 

 escapes unconsumed into the air of the room. Now, how can we 

 remedy this ? If possible, by growing our plants in rooms which 

 are not lighted by gas or heated by furnaces or stoves. Where 

 this is impossible, by securing by ventilation a complete change of 

 the air of the room at least twice a day. Plants, especially those 

 suited for parlor culture, seldom require a vcr}^ high temperature, 

 and most of our living rooms are too hot for them ; a night 

 temperature of 40°, rising to 65 or 70° by day, is quite sufficient 

 for the healthy growth of most plants, and this rise of tempera- 

 ture should be mostly from sun heat. 



