264 THE PLEASURE (i HOUND. 



Management of Hothouse Plants. 



The house intended for the growth of stove, or 

 tropical plants, should be constructed so as to give 

 a proper command of artificial heat in the Winter 

 season, when a high temperature is requisite for the 

 preservation of the plants. These, being natives 

 of warm climates, require a strong degree of heat, 

 to induce them to grow and nourish in the con- 

 fined apartments that are allotted for their culti- 

 vation. 



The thermometer ought to be regulated, morn- 

 ings and evenings, in this department, from 60 to 70 

 degrees ; otherwise, the cold cutting winds that 

 generally pass between the laps of the panes of 

 glass, will prove very injurious to the tender shoots 

 and foliage of many of these exotics. When the 

 atmosphere of the stove increases to 70 degrees by 

 the influence of sun-heat, a little air should be ad- 

 mitted in the middle of the day, but taken away 

 again early in the afternoon, so that the house may 

 be shut up warm from the effects of the sun, which 

 is more advisable than having recourse to strong fires 

 for the purpose ; and as the use of the bark bed is 

 now becoming very generally exploded, for the cul- 

 tivation of tropical plants, a higher degree of tempe- 

 rature is necessary for the health and preservation 

 of these ; but, as many of the tender exotics will 

 succeed better by having a slight degree of bottom 

 heat at their roots, this may be successfully supplied 



