132 TEMPERATURE AND VENTILATION. 



needed the first thing in the morning, and it should 

 be given, not all at once, but little by little as the 

 day advances and the plants require it. In the 

 course of such a day changes may come about, 

 necessitating letting the air off, so that there 

 is a constant changing either one way or another 

 throughout the entire day. Even at night it is 

 necessary to observe these precautions in order to 

 keep the plants in good condition. It has been our 

 practice to allow the houses to run just as cold as 

 possible in the early part of February and later. 

 It will not injure the plants late in the season to 

 occasionally allow a little frost to get in. This 

 will hold back the flowers and will give more re- 

 turns as the season advances. In March or April, 

 if the weather is mild, the doors and ventilators 

 should be open at all times in order to get plenty 

 of fresh air. If this practice is not followed the 

 growth will be so rapid that blossoming will 

 soon cease and there will be no flowers for Easter. 



One of the chief reasons why it is difficult for 

 a grower to handle violets in connection with 

 other crops is the failure to furnish proper tem- 

 perature and ventilation for the violets. The 

 tendency in such cases is always to give too much 

 heat, and this more than anything else will soon 

 manifest itself in the appearance of small, poorly 

 colored flowers. 



The same care given in the houses must be 

 observed where frames are used. Plants in a 



