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THE FLORISTS JOURNAL. 
the more abundant and beautiful are the flowers. But here the 
question arises, “ What is meant by ‘ tropical character ?’ ” Does it 
depend solely upon difference of latitude, as is said or sung in the 
common school-books of geography ; or does it depend upon the 
isothermal lines, or curves of equal mean temperature, as established 
by observation ?” It does no such thing ; the summer air in the 
dry plains of northern Russia has often a higher temperature than 
the average of India ; and yet there are no tropical plants there, 
and few plants of any kind except the humblest lichens and mosses. 
Nor is it difficult to see the cause of this. On the plains to which 
we allude, the sun is never below the horizon during the heat of 
the season ; and therefore the plants get no nocturnal rest, which 
is just as essential to their healthy growth, and especially to their 
flowering, as the seasonal pause is to the preservation of their 
characters. Seasons of alternate humidity and drought; pretty 
long nights, even in the summer ; and a porous soil to afford 
drainage during the rains, are what really constitute a tropical 
character—the circumstances most favourable to the successful 
growth of fine flowers ; and though England has upon the whole 
a dripping climate, yet the florist can by judicious treatment give 
his portion of the soil something of a tropical character. It is 
true, that from the many varieties of habit which exist amongplants 
themselves, the florist must have many modifications of his treat¬ 
ment ; but still the general principle holds good, that the more 
tropical he can render his grounds, either by wholesome sand 
mingled with the soil, or by any other contrivance, his flowers 
will invariably be the finer and the more abundant. 
On the other hand, if he allows his grounds to get into the 
anti-tropical character of a cold and retentive soil, and a continual 
dribbling of humidity, whether from the clouds or the watering- 
pot, he works directly against the principle of flowering, and his 
plants will either perish or run to barren shoots, in the most un¬ 
seemly and unprofitable manner. We have heard some unskilful 
parties boast that they could by watering keep in growth all the 
year round plants which are generally rested for a season ; but 
though they have boasted of the growth, they have been careful 
not to say a word about the subsequent flowering. A case very 
much in point will illustrate this : suppose after a hard day’s 
employment, a healthy man is in a profound sleep, would it add 
to his comfort or conduce to his health, if you were to try and 
