REPOSE OF PLANTS. 75 



Chemical illustrations, unless of the simplest kind, or refer- 

 ences to the agency of electricity, have little obvious applica- 

 tion to practical purposes." 



The object of a brief work like this, is not to elucidate the 

 laws of vegetable life in all their minute and, it must be freely 

 confessed, obscure details, but to narrate to those already 

 acquainted with the art of horticulture, some experiences, 

 with which they have not had the leisure to become familiar. 

 Certainly there were many most interesting natural phenom- 

 ena which were very tempting to enter into : respecting 

 temperature, for example, a vital point in these matters ; or 

 moisture of soils ; on the periods required by plants for rest, 

 which is a very important subject, and one which that acute 

 observer, Mr. Knight, has so well explained. 



Certainly, few people appreciate the necessity of diurnal 

 repose for plants, as well as their long rest during the winter 

 months, and thus the pernicious custom of keeping up high 

 temperatures during the night in forcing houses is still too 

 much in favor. This vicious custom exhausts the trees, with- 

 out promoting their growth or aiding the ripening process, 

 and as it bears so directly on the subject treated of here, I 

 cannot refrain from quoting as follows : " As early in the 

 spring as I wanted the blossoms of my peach trees to unfold, 

 my house was made warm during the middle of the day ; 

 but, towards night, it was suffered to cool, and the trees well 

 syringed at as nearly the temperature of the natural exhala- 

 tions as I could."* 



Under this treatment Mr. Knight's trees flourished, and 

 the blossoms were extremely large, this being a most im- 

 portant matter, as the size of the blossom much regulates the 

 size of the fruit. 



[* Truly does Mr. Brehaut call it a " vicious " custom to maintain a high night 

 temperature. Nothing, we have long been convinced, is so injurious to any 

 plants or fruits cultivated under glass, as a high night temperature. The plants 

 must have repose ; and to be kept under constant excitement, night and day, is 

 sure to weaken and eventually ruin them. Except when the weather is very 

 unfavorable, ventilation should be freely given at night as well as during the 

 day. — c. M. H.J 



