TEMPERATURE 67 



construction are easily procured; the tanks themselves 

 are easy to build, they do not rot, and are practically 

 everlasting. How to make them is explained in bulletin 

 23, published by the Association of Portland Cement 

 Manufacturers, Philadelphia. 



A good rule is to " water with an ascending tem- 

 perature"; that is to say, in the morning rather than at 

 night or late in the afternoon. It is argued, with some 

 show of reason, that watering at night chills the soil about 

 the roots, giving them " cold feet " until next day, and 

 that, consequently, this is a fertile cause of buds dropping, 

 and also rather encourages mildew. This may be true at 

 times in the case of the outdoor crop, but has but little 

 effect under glass. However, cold and cloudy weather, 

 coming suddenly after watering, demands prompt firing 

 up on the part of the grower, who at the same time should 

 open the ventilators sufficiently to cause the warm, dry air 

 to circulate. It is well to bear in mind that heat and 

 dryness are detrimental to Sweet Peas, and if continuing 

 together for even a day may prove fatal to the plants. 



TEMPERATURE 



It has been stated already that a temperature of 55 

 to 60 degrees Fahr. is favored for the germination of the 

 seedlings, but after they are well through the soil gradually 

 reduce this at the rate of one degree per day until the 

 maximum day temperature is 50 deg. Of course, where 

 the house is cleared, it is advisable to start the Peas cool, 

 sowing them directly where they are to grow. In any case, 

 so soon as germination has taken place and growth has 

 well begun, a day and night temperature of 50 and 45 

 degrees respectively is then maintained until the plants 

 have grown 2)4, ft- to 3 ft. high, which will have given 



