130 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
thus whilst every convenience would be afforded for paying them 
the attention they might require, they would also enjoy a full 
share of that most indispensable requisite to healthful vegetation, 
that real essential, light. During their winter, (that is when 
they are at rest,) they would require only to be kept safe from 
injury by frost, and consequently would not need the applica¬ 
tion of artificial heat; but when the period of their development 
arrives, an increase of temperature becomes necessary ; this, 
however, as in all similar cases, should be progressive, so that 
the health and constitutional strength of the plants may not be 
weakened by sudden and unnecessary excitement; a degree of 
temperature, ranging at first at about 40° and rising gradually 
to 55° by day, when the blooms are about to expand, would be 
such as 1 should adopt, but above every other consideration as 
regards the temperature, 1 would require that the heat during 
the night should be not less than 5° below the average of that 
of the day. 
Plants can only exercise their functions of respiration, di¬ 
gestion, and assimilation, under the influence of light, at least 
it is only by the assistance of this agent that they can go on 
satisfactorily ; now the application of heat has the effect of com¬ 
pelling plants to exercise these vital functions, and therefore to 
force them into a state of action without the aid of the most 
essential requisite, by maintaining a high temperature whilst 
they are enveloped in darkness, is to violate all that we know 
of the very nature and principles of their existence ; and I am 
sure I cannot use stronger language than this to convince 
every one (if at least my argument is a correct one) that 
it is a most injudicious and injurious course to pursue, and what 
in this sense applies to the use of heat, applies equally to that 
of moisture. 
With regard, then, to moisture, for to this we next direct our 
attention, much depends on the season, the state of the weather, 
and the temperature maintained. In winter when light is defi¬ 
cient, the nights long and chilling, the days gloomy and cheer¬ 
less, too little can scarcely be made use of, provided that enough 
is given to maintain vitality. As the spring advances and more 
power is gained by the sun —the source of light and heat; as the 
days lengthen and the purer atmosphere transmits more readily 
the influence of that glorious luminary, so will an increased pro- 
