126 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Deep down in my heart is a well of contempt for persons who 

 4on't like flowers, and it isn't always the ones who gush over them the 

 most who love them best. They who truly care for flowers will culti- 

 vate them. 



It is so easy to have a few plants always in dainty condition, if 

 persons are willing to take just a little trouble. Carnations and roses, 

 with a big box of sweet alyssum, and another of smilax, will give 

 splendid results for a small amount of care. Of course there must be 

 sunshine, or there will be no blossoms, at least none worth mentioning ; 

 but palms and ferns will grow without sunshine, and so will the rubber 

 plant and some of the begonias. 



I saw in St. Louis, in the home of a friend, who had but little sun- 

 shine, and no light to spare in many of her rooms, a rubber plant fully 

 five feet tall, branching beautifully, with its great shining leaves gleam- 

 ing with joy. It was happy, and did not need the sunshine. 



Geraniums grow anywhere with half a chance, and bloom grandly 

 if you are not too good to them. They are like some people I have 

 known. If you give them too rich food, or too much space, they want 

 the earth; they grow quite bigoted and self-consequential, refuse 

 utterly to blossom and lift up their great cabbage-like foliage for ad- 

 miration. One may safely snub a geranium considerably, but it will 

 never do to treat a rose other than with consideration. Roses will re- 

 sent neglect quicker than will any other flower I am acquainted with. 

 Tes, it pays to be very kind to the roses. When I go into my little 

 glass room and see the immense trusses of geraniums, I smile at them, 

 and tell them they are "very nice," but I keep my rose as far from them 

 as possible. Yet they do not seem to notice it. 1 would not be with- 

 out them, especially "White Wings," and "Souvenir de Mirande." 

 Nothing can take the place of the delicate pink of the one, nor the pure 

 white of the other. I do not wear geraniums, however beautiful they 

 look. I cannot bear their odor. Palms are very dignified and sub- 

 stantial. They belong to large rooms and high ceilings, and do not 

 look at home anywhere else. They are not aristocrats, either, for 

 they will thrive in the meanest kind of rooms, but they do not appear 

 well in them. 



Ferns are pretty anywhere, but must not have too much sun, nor 

 too strong and continuous a light. They need days of darkness and 

 rest. They are of rather a melancholy nature and thrive best in half 

 shade. 



I get much pleasure from cultivating the Parlor ivy, Kenil worth 

 ivy and the Wandering Jew. Beautiful effects can be produced with 



