95 
you to be more sparing of water than you 
otherwise would be, if the wind blew a soft air 
from the warm quarter ; south by south-west, 
and rain from the same quarter, must be more 
nourishing to plants, than from the north or 
liorth-east aspect. 1 have often with pleasure 
remarked, how very fast the plants would grow, 
and how freely the pips would expand them- 
selves, when the wind blew south or south- 
west ; when this happened, I used to give the 
plants a plentiful supply of soft water, perhaps 
twice a day ; at this period they require it ; 
I never found it do them the least injury, for it 
is my firm belief, that more fine plants get 
diseased and killed by bad unwholesome Com- 
post^ than any thing else. 
The covering I made use of, were two good 
old thick Wilton blankets, and laid them at 
night next to the glass ; if this happened to 
fail, I got three or four of inferior quality ; if 
neither of these are to be obtained, I recom- 
mend as a substitute some good warm hunter’s 
horse-cloths of the best woollen quality, other- 
wise some sheep-skins, to be placed next the 
glass ) it is wonderful how this woollen texture 
will repel the cold fi'osty night air. After this, I 
used to throw over them about five or six mats, 
which protected the flowers, as well as kept 
