By John Frederic Daniell, Esq. 25 



The effect of keeping the floor of the hot-house continually 

 wet has been already tried at the Society's Garden, at my 

 suggestion, and it has been found that the plants have grown 

 with unprecedented vigour: indeed their luxuriance must 

 strike the most superficial observer. 



To the human feelings the impression of an atmosphere so 

 saturated with moisture is very different from one heated to 

 the same degree without this precaution ; and any one coming 

 out of a house heated in the common way, into one well 

 charged with vapour, cannot fail to be struck with the dif- 

 ference. Those who are used to hot climates have declared 

 that the feel and smell of the latter exactly assimilate to 

 those of the tropical regions. 



But there is a danger attending the very success of this 

 experiment, which cannot be too carefully guarded against. 

 The trial has been made in the summer months, when the 

 temperature of the external air has not been low, nor the 

 change from day to night very great. In proportion to the 

 luxuriance of the vegetation will be the danger of any sud- 

 den check, and it is much to be feared, that unless proper 

 precautions are adopted, the cold, long nights of winter may 

 produce irreparable mischief. 



I am aware that a grea t objection attaches to my plan of the 

 double glass, on account of the expense, but I think that this 

 may appear greater at first sight than it may afterwards be 

 found to be in practice. It is however, at all events, I submit, 

 a point worthy of the Horticultural Society to determine, and 

 if the suggestion should be found to be effective, the lights 

 of many frames which are not commonly in use in winter 

 might, without much trouble, be fitted to slide over the 



VOL. vi. E 



