THE SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 387 



but little space, is not much trouble to cultivate, and requires much les3 water 



to moisten it than if planted in the usual way, with the rows six or eight feet 



apart, besides a much smaller quantity of earth answers for banking it up for 



bleaching, and of course less labor to do it. If one has not a hot-bed frame he 



can set boards uj) at the edges of a bed in the garden, and manage it in the 



same way. ]5oards a foot wide should be used, and very cheap refuse lumber 



will answer for the purpose. 



************** 



Mr. C. M. Ilovey, of Boston, Massachusetts, thinks that the fact that celery 

 is now produced of better quality than formerly is owing to the modern system 

 of growing the plants on the surface of the ground like other crops and not in 

 deep trenches. In regard to the former, Mr. Hovey says that Mr. Henderson's 

 plan is the only safe one, and is precisely the same he saw practiced when a 

 mere boy, and the one he recommended time and time again, and which he has 

 always followed. The second day of January he had beautiful celery from roots 

 packed away in October, in this manner: A thin light frame was placed upon 

 the ground (on a dry sandy sub-soil), the earth was thrown out two feet or 

 more down to and with some of the sand, which served as a banking fur the 

 frame. The roots were then set in, upright in rows, with the coarser foliage 

 cut off, filling in any vacancies between the roots with sand. The frame was 

 then filled with dry leaves and covered with tight shutters. No frost will pene- 

 * trate such a covering, and there will be no dampness at any time. During the 

 winter roots may be taken out, and the covering replaced. 



FLOKICULTUKE. 



SCHOOLS AND FLOWERS. 



In urging upon teachers the desirability of growing flowers upon the school 

 ground, we have made this point prominent — that the flowers should be used 

 in the school room, and especially in carrying gladness to the sick rooms of 

 pupils who were deprived of school and out-of-door enjoyments. In many 

 instances reports of teachers have mentioned the satisfaction derived from 

 carrying out this latter idea. In a recent number of the Ladies' Floral Cabinet 

 is an illustration of what good may be done in this way: 



Several years ago, when I was a young housekeeper, I was startled one 

 Sunday morning by the request from a working blacksmith for some grapes 

 for his sick wife. We had no greenhouse or vinery. Our little bit of garden 

 was most unassuming, and I could not think what made the man come to me. 



However, I told him that I believed a friend of ours had some early grapes, 

 and if I could get some, his wife should have them in the afternoon. My 

 husband walked out with me to our friend's house. Some grapes were most 

 willingly given for the invalid, and some flowers for ourselves. 



