52 THE FLOKIST. 



" Second section : The Arts and Sciences connected with Horti- 

 culture. 



" Third section: Designs taken from Horticulture." 



Two days are fixed for the exhibition of plants, flowers, and 

 fruits — June 20th and 21st. The prizes are liberal in most in- 

 stances, although we object to some of their arrangements in this 

 respect. However, we \vish the undertaking every success, and in- 

 tend being present to prepare a detailed report for a future Number. 



Nothing can be more satisfactory than the last report of the 

 Royal Oxfordshire Horticultural Society, w^hich states: " The Com- 

 mittee have set apart the sum of 400Z. as a reserved fund, with 

 directions to invest the same in government securities for the benefit 

 of the Society." 



We observe that 616Z. was received for the sale of tickets alone 

 in 1853. 



CLEANLINESS IN GARDENING. 



Cleanliness, the proverb tells us, is next to godliness, and one reason 

 why it is placed so high as a moral duty is, because it is essential to 

 health. And it is quite as essential to the health of plants as to that 

 of animals. Passing through the houses of a friend some time since, 

 who considers himself, and I suppose is considered by others, a good 

 gardener, I was much struck to observe that the leaves of his hard- 

 wooded plants were entirely covered with the parasite denominated 

 the soot fungus^ which gives such an unsightly appearance to the 

 Orange-trees in the winter, and which, together with the accumulation 

 of dust and veritable soot from the heating aj)paratus had so meta- 

 morphosed them, that, instead of being green, they were black. And 

 I suppose my readers have not unfrequently seen the same thing. 

 Perhaps it is not too much to say, that it is just possible, if they look 

 into their own frames and greenhouses, they may see it at this 

 moment; for the dull and dark days of January are very likely to 

 bring it about. Well, this arises from a want of cleanliness, and it is 

 also certain that it is very injurious to plants ; for the leaves are the 

 lungs of the plants, and if you choke up these vital organs, the plant 

 cannot breathe ; and if it does not breathe it cannot live. Just as 

 you cannot live yourself if your lungs are choked up with dust, as 

 they would be if you were a mason, or a bricklayer, or a' needle- 

 maker, unless you made use of the remedy just now prescribed in a 

 leading journal for such cases, and wore a moustache. The remedy 

 for plants, to save them from going into consumption, is a free use 

 of soap and water. There is plenty of time during the snow and 

 rain of winter to get such work as this done ; and really, if the 

 plants are intended to be healthy, it must be done. When the men 

 are frozen out or washed out, set them to work at cleaning the 

 dirty leaves, only let them take care they are not bruised in the 

 operation. 



