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THE SUNDIAL, ASH RIDGE PARK, GREAT BERK HA MSTED. 



FLOWERS OF THE STOVE. 



THE term "stove" is applied to a plant-house for the cultivation of those subjects 

 that need a high temperature, under which head are included many of the 

 showiest introductions from the tropics. Besides this, it is also very useful for 

 forcing any greenhouse plants that are required to flower earlier than thev 

 otherwise would if allowed to remain in the cooler structure. During the winter a night 

 temperature of from 55deg. to 6odeg. should be maintained, and in the daytime, under the 

 influence of sun heat, the thermometer may be allowed to rise another iodeg. or even I5deg. 

 As die spring advances an increase of 5deg. may he made in the night temperature, and a 

 little more in the daytime. In the summer a very small amount of artifical heat is 

 needed during the hot weather, but enough must be given to prevent the thermometer 

 falling below 6sdeg. during the night, while the day temperature may range from 7odeg. 

 to 8odeg. 



As most stove plants delight in a moist, humid atmosphere, and the hot-water 

 pipes necessary to maintain heat have a drying tendency, various means are resorted to 

 in order to counteract this. What are known as evaporating pans — that is, shallow iron 

 troughs which tit on the hot-water pipes, and, being tilled with water, give off a continual 

 supply of moisture — are of great service. Damping down, as it is technically termed, should 

 be done several times a day, according to the weather. This consists in sprinkling with 

 water the floor underneath the stages, and any spot conveniently situated for the purpose, 

 the object being to prevent the atmosphere becoming too dry. In the culture of some 

 stove plants bottom heat is of great service, and this is effected by running one or two 

 hot-water pipes along a shallow tank filled with water. Slates or tiles are placed over 

 the tank', and then covered with a bed of cocoa-nut refuse, the sides being walled in so 

 that no steam can escape that way. It therefore ascends, and, percolating through the 

 cocoa-nut refuse, maintains a regular and moist bottom heat. The plants that require it 



