322 GENERAL REMARKS ON THE MANAGEMENT 



its ripening 1 , when most nutriment is probably wanted. The 

 Muscat of Alexandria grapes, and some other late grapes, are 

 often seen to wither upon the branch in a very imperfect state 

 of maturity, and the want of richness and flavor in other forced 

 fruit is, we are very confident, often attributable to the same 

 cause. There are few peach houses or graperies in this coun- 

 try in which the night temperature does not exceed, during the 

 months of April and May, that of the warmest valleys of 

 Jamaica, in the hottest period of the year. And there are prob- 

 ably as few hot-houses in which the trees are not more strongly 

 stimulated by the close and damp air of the night, than by the 

 temperature of the dry air of the noon of the following day. 

 The practice which occasions this cannot be right; it is in 

 direct opposition to nature."^ 



We have fully satisfied ourselves that a high night temperature 

 is injurious to plants of any description, kept under glass, and 

 that green-house plants not only expand their flowers more per- 

 fectly, but continue much longer in bloom, when the temperature 

 of the house is reduced at night by the admission of air or other- 

 wise. In like manner, fruits are not only better flavored, a 

 fact generally admitted, but also better colored, and more per- 

 fect in form, by a low temperature at night. On the other 

 * hand, too much air is generally admitted during the day. 



There is no doubt that gardeners frequently err in admitting 

 the external air into their hot-houses, etc., during the day, par- 

 ticularly in bright weather; and this error is so common as to 

 form a portion of regular practice. We have seen graperies 

 and green-houses fully exposed to the parching winds of a sum- 

 mer day, without screen or shelter; while the plants subjected 

 to this treatment plainly indicated, by their appearance, its inju- 

 rious effects. The climate of this country is so different in 

 respect to its atmosphere during the day, from that of Britain, 

 we are too apt to follow the practice of that country, where this 

 practice is also carried to too great extent.! 



* Loudon's Encyclopedia of Gardening. 



f The climate of the British Isles, relatively to others in the same lati- 

 tude, is temperate, humid, and variable. The moderation of its temper- 

 ature and its humidity are owing to its being surrounded by water, 



