ABOUT FEUITS, FLOWEES AND FARMING. 357 



activity, and the period of their growth. Let the earth be 

 well stirred, and if it is becoming dry on the inside, give 

 water. Never water by dribblets — a spoonful to-day, 

 another to-morrow. In this way the outside will become 

 bound, and the inside remain dry. Give a copious watering, 

 so that the whole ball shall be soaked ; then let it drain off, 

 and that which comes into the saucer be poured off. But 

 in whatever way one prefers to give water, the tiling to be 

 gained is a full supply of moisture to every part of the 

 roots, and yet not so much as to have it stand about them. 

 Manure-water may be employed with great benefit every 

 second or third watering. For this purpose we have never 

 found anything of value equal to guano. Besides water to 

 the root, plants are almost as much benefited by water on 

 the leal — ^but of this we shall speak under the head of 

 cleanliness. 



3. Temperature. — Sudden and violent changes of tem- 

 perature are almost as trying to plants as to animals and 

 men. At the same time, a moderate change of tempera- 

 ture is very desirable. Thus, in nature, there is a marked 

 and uniform variation at night from the temperature of the 

 day. At night, the room should be gradually lowered in 

 temperature to from forty-five degrees to fifty degrees, while 

 through the day it ranges from fifty-five degrees to seventy 

 degrees. Too much, and too sudden heat will destroy 

 tender leaves almost as surely as frost. It should also be 

 remembered that the leaves of plants are constantly exhal- 

 ing moisture during the day. If in too warm an atmos- 

 phere, or in one which is too dry, this perspiration becomes 

 excessive and weakens the plant. If the room be stove- 

 heated, a basin of water should be put on the stove to sup- 

 l)ly moisture to the air by evaporation. Sprinkling the 

 leaves, a kind of artificial dew, is also beneficial, on tliis 

 account. The air should be changed as often as possible. 

 Every warm and sunny day should be improved to let in 

 fresh air upon these vegetable breathers. 



