JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST. 



113 



bloom fully three hundred flow- 

 ers each day for a period of two 

 weeks ; the picking of about 

 four thousand flowers during so 

 sliort a time, it is needless to say, 

 would keep one pretty well oc- 

 cupied. 



Bat such results are not to be 

 obtained under any other than 

 favorable conditions : the iiastur- 

 tium wants all the sun it can get, 

 plenty of water, and nothing but 

 sandy loam to grow in ; any 

 richer ground, or lesser sunlight, will make the plant 

 produce nothing but leaves. It is curious to note 

 how quicklj^ the little plant responds to the right 

 kind of treatment : if we wish 

 many flowers, we must not fail to 

 pick each blossom as soon as it 

 appears ; if the flowers are allowed 

 to remain on the plant, the latter 

 concludes that they are not wanted, 

 and soon ceases to produce any 

 more ; as fast as the flowers are 

 gathered, others begin to make 

 their appearance ; whereas, if the 

 N. King Theodore. plauts are left to themsclves, there 



