JUNE. 135 



in a cool room or house, and last for a much longer time in flower. 

 I have kept LaeHa majalis in a cool room four and five weeks, and L. 

 flava will keep a much longer time in blossom than in the warm 

 house. When the bloom begins to fade they should be removed to 

 the stove, where they may be placed in the coolest end, with plenty 

 of shade : they ought to be kept there for about ten days, for if they 

 are exposed to the sun they are very apt to become scorched." 



AVe heartily recommend the perusal of Mr. Williams's book to 

 the notice of our readers, confident that they will not be disappointed 

 with its contents. A good index is supplied at the end; and at the 

 beginning there is a coloured plate of the beautiful little Sophronitis 

 grandiflora, a scarlet species from the Organ Mountains. 



SLUGS AND SNAILS. 



It is an interesting question, how far the absence of slugs in many 

 districts has been caused by the long- continued drought. It is pos- 

 sible that they are as numerous as ever in some localities : on my 

 ground, generally infested with them to a grievous extent, I have 

 observed scarcely any. Snails seem as abundant as ever on my 

 rock -work, in the deep recesses of which they appear to have 

 been stowed away, indifferent to the dryness above. But they 

 have awakened with a keen relish for the delicate tender shoots of 

 the plants around them, and their extirpation is a matter admitting 

 of no delay. Nor is it sufficient to hunt them " at morn and dewy 

 eve ;" it is necessary to pursue them unrelentingly by lamp or lan- 

 tern, if we would preserve our favourites from their devastations. For 

 want of taking these precautions, how often do gardeners of all classes 

 lose the fruits of their care and labours ! Yet it has not been for 

 ■want of warnings : they are constantly reminded of this and similar 

 duties. 



Reader and Subscriber. 



ENTHUSIASM. 



When a person takes up any pursuit, he devotes himself to it, or, if 

 he does not, he fails of success. Few have that self-command which 

 enables them to keep it absent from their conversation ; and when they 

 speak of it, they do so in terms which proclaim them enthusiasts. 

 And yet how little is this to be ridiculed ; for how much do we owe 

 to enthusiasm ! All our great discoveries, all the varied improve- 

 ments which go on from year to year, are the fruits of enthusiasts. 

 And so in our pursuit, the varied beauties of our gardens are the 

 results of enthusiasm in the lovers of plants, in collectors of them, 

 or in the raisers of seedlings. Enthusiasm for ever I says an 



Enthusiast. 



