304 



THE MOIST STOVE. 



plants, by the author of the botanical article in the " Weekly Chronicle " 

 for November 26th, is so excellent as to meet with our cordial approba- 

 tion, and is, in our opinion, the best directions in the fewest words we 

 have met with, and corresponds with our own practice : — 



" There are two distinct states in the existence of every plant ; one, of 

 quietude and repose, the other, of developement and display. The plants 

 which are cultivated in hothouses are chiefly the natives of tropical 

 climates ; and an idea has prevailed with many that they require a steady 

 undiminished h-eat of from sixty to seventy degrees of Fahrenheit's ther- 

 mometer. If it be supposed that these high degrees of temperature exist 

 at all seasons in the hot countries, a great mistake is committed ; for even 

 in the torrid zone, within a few degrees north and south of the line, severe 

 cold is frequently experienced; and in the hilly districts, unequivocal 

 evidence of actual frost is sometimes afforded. Yet the pine-apple, a 

 plant which flourishes with prodigious luxuriance in the pestilential, 

 vapourous atmosphere of Batavia, and in the close woods of Western 

 Africa, bearing the utmost extremes of heat, will nevertheless sustain 

 a degree of cold below that of the mean temperature of our climates 

 in Februar}', without manifest injury. Beauty, perpetual verdure, and 

 floral developements cannot be forced. Plants will not grow at all 

 seasons. 



" Repose and sleep are required by all created things ; and he who en- 

 deavours to keep up by heat — during darkness, gloom, and frost — those 

 effects of vital action which depend upon Hght and solar influence, must 

 eflfect his object at the expense of those stores of supply which have been 

 accumulated for the production of the fresh organs and developements in 

 the ensuing spring. Hothouse plants revel in a moist atmosphere and 

 great heat during the advanced spring and summer months ; but they 

 seek rest and freedom from offensive damp, during winter : the autumn 

 prepares them for this torpid condition. We must, therefore, gradually 

 desist at this season fi-om raising steam ; indeed, any degree of moisture 

 beyond that which is yielded by the surface soil of the pots is unnecessary. 

 From the commencement of October to the second week in March, let 

 the air be kept dry, water being given in the smallest quantity which will 

 sustain life, and no bad consequences need be apprehended from the cold 

 of the nights. Fi'ost must, at the same time, be guarded against ; and a 

 decline of the mercury should not be suffered below forty-eight degrees ; 

 but it is mere waste of health, time, and fuel, to aim at high temperatures, 

 when all they could effect would be to ' draw ' the plants, without 

 supplying them with any vigour of constitution. The experienced 



