ET CETERA. 103 



USE OF THE CELLAR. 



So many references to the "the cellar" have heen 

 made heretofore, that I have half expected your request 

 for all "the whats and hows" of its use in connection 

 with the greenery. But you will doubtless be able in 

 most cases to decide these questions for yourselves on the 

 "general principles" already considered, such as the 

 necessity of regulating the light by the temperature, and 

 the watering by the condition of the plant, etc. A few 

 suggestions, however, may be of service to you at the 

 beginning. 



The cellar will be best suited to your purpose if it has 

 an even temperature of about 40 degrees, with a moder- 

 ate amount of light from the outside, something like a 

 strong twilight. To secure both together, it may be 

 necessary to glaze the windows on the inside of the sash, 

 thus giving them double walls of glass and confined air 

 between. Having such a cellar, you will probably find 

 no better place in which to keep a supply of soil and 

 pots, and do the work of the "potting bench ;" but you 

 will use it chiefly for the safe storage of your plants 

 while they are waiting as candidates for the honors of 

 the greenery, as mentioned under Eoses and Bulbs, or 

 whenever they need to be sent into retirement. Here 

 several precautions are in order : 



1. Let the transition of the plants from one extreme 

 to the other be as gradual as possible, that is to say, 

 directly from the brightest and warmest part of the cellar 

 to the darkest and coolest place in the greenery, and vice 

 versa. 



2. When room must be made by removing some of the 

 plants to the cellar, take only such as are in a state of 

 rest, and are therefore somewhat prepared for the change. 



3. Plants that are entirely dormant need less light 

 than those which retain their leaves, and so may be kept 



