134 HOT-HOUSE. [January, 



two, or three inches, according to the weather, and let it 

 always be done from eleven to one o'clock ; but by no means 

 in such a manner as to cause a draught in the interior of 

 the house, which would be very prejudicial. Therefore, be 

 always cautious during cold weather in administering that 

 necessary element to vegetation, which is so conducive to 

 health. 



OF FIRING AND FUEL. 



The hot-house ought never to be left entirely to inexpe- 

 rienced persons, because they are not aware of what might 

 be the result of inattention even for an hour. Attention 

 to the following observations will obviate every difficulty : 

 About this season of the year, frost generally sets in very 

 severe in the Middle States. Suppose the day may have all 

 the clemency of spring, the night may be directly the re- 

 verse. Every precaution is necessary to guard against 

 extremes. The shutters are put on every night at sun- 

 down, and, in severe weather, as soon as the sun goes off 

 the glass. If the shutters are omitted till late in severe 

 frost, it will so reduce the heat of the house that you can 

 not overcome it by fire until near midnight; and, when 

 done, the fire or fires have been made more powerful than 

 they ought to be, proving ungenial to the plants that are 

 near the flues. The air, as above directed, having been 

 taken off the house at one o'clock, as soon as the mercury 

 begins to fall in the thermometer, kindle the fire, and, sup- 

 posing it is anthracite coal, in twenty minutes, with a good 

 drawing furnace, the heat will operate in the house. If a 

 coal fire, kindled about four o'clock, it will require an addi- 

 tion about six, and then may be made up again about nine 

 or ten, which will suffice until morning. The quantity 

 must be regulated by the weather. If the fuel is wood, it 

 must be attended to three or four times during the evening; 

 and, when the mornings are intensely cold, a fire may be 

 requisite. When there are bad drawing furnaces, the fires 

 must be made much earlier, perhaps by two or three o'clock, 

 •which will be easily observed by the time the fire takes 

 effiict upon the air of the house. The temperature ought 

 never to be under fifty degrees of Fahrenheit. 



