6 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
a moistening of the surface. The action of heat which is given 
out during the condensation of the atmospheric vapour into this 
moisture, is not absorbed by the humid earth and plants, but dis¬ 
sipated through the atmosphere; and thus, when the sun and 
warmth return, it increases the evaporation, and cold and constric¬ 
tion of the more delicate vessels of plants, by which that operation 
is always accompanied. This is verified by a fact, to which you, 
your correspondents, or both, have adverted in former numbers of 
your journal, namely, that plants are affected more readily by 
frost in low and moist situations than in those which are more 
dry, warm, and cold ; and this is, also, the reason why flowers 
grow better, and bloom more finely, where the soil is porous, 
having an under drainage, and, consequently, a more dry sur¬ 
face. 
This brings me to the main subject of this communication, 
though by a path rather circuitous. What I would urge is, the 
obtaining of such an atmosphere out of doors, as would suit those 
plants which are hardy at every temperature above freezing, and 
for several more degrees below freezing in more dry atmospheres 
than with us. Were this once obtained, our out-door floriculture, 
which is by far the most desirable, as being ornamental to exten¬ 
sive scenes, might be greatly improved, by increasing the number 
of plants, and lengthening the season of their out-door flowering. 
In houses, whether these come under the denomination of green¬ 
houses, conservatories, dry stoves or moist stoves, plants of all cli¬ 
mates may, if properly treated, be preserved in good health, made 
to flower well, and be neat and handsome enough as individuals ; 
but there are no means by which the plants can be grouped 
according to nature, and an idea of their habitat communicated. 
For this there is not, generally speaking, sufficient room ; and 
even a moderate share of the room necessary for the display of 
tropical vegetation could not be obtained without great expense, 
and however expensive, it would be too circumscribed for the taller 
plants, and too subject to fluctuations of temperature for those of' 
humbler growth. If, for instance, a stove were large enough for 
giving full expansion to the giants of the tropical forests, it would 
convey away too rapidly that heat and moisture which are neces¬ 
sary for plants of less stately growth; because if the air were suf¬ 
ficiently hot for the taller ones, the ascending current would 
either dry up those on the surface, or chill them by evaporation. 
