240 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



give anv elaborate directions about the compost, as most of the 

 Londoners have little choice in the matter, and must take an 

 excursion to the outskirts in order to procure the supply they 

 require ; but there are a tew things in reference to plants generally 

 which are grown in windows, and by failing to give attention to 

 tliese little points of management, many persons who hnve no con- 

 fined space nor dusty atmosphere to complain of are unable to find 

 success in growing their little favourites. One of the most impor- 

 tant points is the watering; there should be plenty of crocks in the 

 bottom of the pot, so as to allow the water to pass oft' rapidly, and 

 thus ensure perfect drainage. This is one of the few rules without 

 an exception, as there is not a single plant I know of suitable for 

 window culture which will flourish if the water is allowed to stagnate 

 at the bottom of the pot. Never allow any water to remain in the 

 saucer. How often does one see the window plants of our acquain- 

 tance standing in a pool of water in the saucers ; when plants 

 require watering give them plenty, so that the roots have a thorough 

 soaking, but pour away that which runs in the saucer ; and if your 

 plants require a great deal of water, give it them often, and dan't 

 compel them to suck it up through the hole in the bottom of 

 the pot. 



During the day-time plants should have plenty of light, not 

 necessarily sunshine, as that may be frequently injurious, and it is 

 better to shade on very hot days, but plenty of dayli^ht, for plants 

 cannot thrive without it. Therefore let the plants stand as close 

 to the window as possible, and keep the glass rubbed clean ; if this 

 is attended to, and the pots turned round a little way every day, you 

 will be able to grow the plants a good shape ; but if they are grown 

 at a distance from the light, the points of the shoots and all the 

 leaves will turn themselves towards the window, and thus present 

 a curious but by no means graceful appearance. At night they 

 should be in the dark, and kept cool. Tou know that plants in a 

 state of nature are cooler at night than in the day, and therefore 

 those grown in windows should be cooler. But it unfortunately 

 happens that most living rooms are considerably warmer, at least 

 during the early part of the night. This is caused by light, firing, 

 and there being mostly more persons in the room, or at home, at 

 night ; consequently the plants stand a fair chance of being injured, 

 and if they must be grown in that room, there is no help for it but 

 standing them down on the floor in such a position that they may 

 be shaded as much as possible from the artificial light, when they 

 will be in a cooler position than they would be if they remained on 

 the window-sill. It is these two reasons, want of light, and too 

 much heat at night, which makes town-grown plants so bmky-looking 

 and sickly ; but with proper precautions most persons will be able to 

 produce specimens of a natural form and in good health. 



G-ive plenty of air. Those who are fond of rising early in the 

 morning, and taking a walk in the fields and woods, will have fre- 

 quently noticed the rnstling of the leaves in the morning breeze. 

 Every one has remarked the leaves of the trees on a sultry day, 

 drooping under the heat of the sun, motionless and desponding, but 



