REPOSE OF PLANTS. 115 



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 be- 

 come familiar. Certainly there were many most 

 interesting natural phenomena 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"; 

 ofjiiurnal repose for plants., as well as_their long/ 

 rest during the winter months, and thus the per- 

 nicious custom of keeping up high temperatures , 

 during the night in forcing houses is still too 

 much in favour. This vicious custom exhausts- 

 the trees, without promoting their growth or' 

 aiding the ripening process, and as it bears 

 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 exhalations } 

 as I could." 



Under this treatment Mr. Knight's trees- 



I 2 



