FEB.] CHERRIES. 339 



Continue to regulate the temperature of the house 

 so as that the thermometer may not rise, by the 

 force of fire-heat, to more than 50 ; and by the 

 free admission of air, in sun-shine, keep it down to 

 60 or 55. The house should be aired, or venti- 

 lated, to a certain degree, every day : In mild wea- 

 ther, by opening the sashes in the common way ; 

 and in frosty, or cold chill weather, by means of the 

 ventilators, as hinted at in Section I. page 273. No- 

 thing is more conducive to the health of the plants, 

 and the setting of the fruit, than a regular and free 

 circulation of air ; and if this be denied them for 

 many days together, the effect will soon be visible. 

 The foliage will become languid, and the flowers 

 will drop away. Therefore a day should seldom 

 pass in which less or more air is not admitted. 



The plants must have regular and moderate sup- 

 plies of water at the root till the fruit be set, and 

 then more freely, as the season, and as their growth 

 advances. The engine may be exercised upon their 

 branches, in a moderate manner, once in two days ; 

 generally in the afternoon about sunset ; using al- 

 ways well aired soft water. But from the time 

 the flowers begin to open, until the petals begin to 

 drop again, desist from using the engine. At this 

 interval, the foliage must be refreshed by steam, 

 which may be produced plentifully every evening, 

 by pouring water on the flues when the fire is at 

 the strongest. A very fine dew might be thrown 

 on the plants by a soft syringe ; but as soon as the 

 fruit are set, the engine is the instrument we should 

 trust to, for the suppression of insects. 



