Flowers and Plants. G1 



discarded, place in the bottom as mucli soil as may be necessary 

 to brino; the top of the ball about a half inch below the top of 

 the pot, then fill around with fine soil, pressing it firmly with a 

 small blunt stick provided for the purpose. The pottiog should 

 never be done when the soil in the pot is dried dry, nor when too 

 wet. If too wet, the life of the soil will be destroyed, and will 

 become about like an unburned brick. 



Specimen Plants. — To young amateurs I would say, grow 

 your own plants, or, if possible, go direct to the florist and pur- 

 chase them. Almost every paper or magazine you take up has 

 its advertisements of cheap plants. These growers can afford to 

 sell cheap, because they raise them in a hot-house temperature, 

 giving them a vigorous appearance by the use of stimulants, and 

 can work off two or three crops from the same space in a season, 

 but you cannot afford to purchase them. They are at their best, 

 and if they do not quickly perish on your hands, it will take 

 weeks of careful attention and nursing, before they will give you 

 any return in flowers. Any novice who will simply pot his plants 

 in good soil and give them supplies of water and air to keep them 

 vigorous, repotting as required, can grow plants, but to grow them 

 well is one of the highest arts of horticulture, and but few of our 

 professional gardeners seem to know anything about it. To the 

 true lover of nature, it is painful to see the deformed and strug- 

 gling specimens that are often exhibited at our fairs. If they are 

 only crowned with a bunch of bloom and belong to some rare 

 specie, the committee is sure to attach the blue ribbon and hand 

 in a glowing report, while the one lonep'antof some poor woman, 

 no matter if grown after nature's perfect model, is passed by. 

 This is doing violence to floriculture. It would be better to dis- 

 card three-fourths of the number and raise a few that will be a 

 joy to the eye. Specimen plants should be grown slowly. Start 

 them in small pots, and shift often enough to prevent becoming 

 pot bound. Study the habits of the plants, and by it regulate 

 your treatment. Give plenty of light and free circulation of air. 

 Keep the plant from sudden changes of temperature, never let it 

 get drowned in water or suffer from the want of it. Do not be 

 afraid to use the knife freely to keep it in the proper form, and 



