18 WINTER GREENERIES AT HOME. 



temperature which would be slightly uncomfortable for 

 us while sitting up, is the better for our plants at night ; 

 and if we are sure of 45 or 50 degrees Fahrenheit, we may 

 sleep without fear for their safety. 



Perhaps you have noticed another interesting and con- 

 venient fact. Your rooms, divided in a vertical scale, 

 have several degrees of latitude. The ceiling inclines 

 toward the Tropics, and the floor toward the Arctic 

 Zone. That is to say, the hottest air is at the top, and 

 the coldest at the bottom. Between the two extremes 

 there is ordinarily a difference of ten or fifteen degrees of 

 the thermometer. This difference we shall find to be of 

 use when we come to fix the regular places of our plants ; 

 but at present it gives us the hint to guard against freez- 

 ing at night by lifting them up from the floor. 



OPENINGS SKYWARD. 



Next in importance to the heating is the lighting of 

 our garden. Here we shall meet a difficulty which arises 

 partly from the unfavorable construction of our dwell- 

 ings, and partly from the bad habits of their owners. 



Antiquarians tell us that at some remote period of the 

 past since the first Paradise was lost our ancestors for 

 many generations were reduced to the extremity of dwell- 

 ing in dark caves. " Troglodytes" these cave-dwellers 

 are called ; and if they are not exactly our ancestors, 

 some of their lineal descendants are still to be found. 

 Otherwise, how can we account for the fact that so many 

 people have a strange preference for darkness, and care- 

 fully exclude from their homes every ray of the blessed 

 sunlight ? It really does seem to be something in the 

 blood a remnant of barbarism transmitted from the 

 dwellers in caves. At any rate, I am sure that just in 

 proportion as light enters the mind, it is welcomed to 

 the home. Besides, how absurd is the very idea of an 

 Eden without sunshine ! 



