MANAGEMENT 179 
the plants, but my experience with most of these 
has proved them next to worthless. (See also 
Chapter XVII.) 
It is not nearly so interesting to read about the 
various greenhouse operations as it is to do them. 
It is work of an entrancing nature, and no one who 
had never taken a little slip of some new or rare 
plant and nursed it through the cutting stage and 
watched its growth till the first bud opened, can 
have an idea of the pleasure to be had. In the next 
chapter I shall attempt to explain just how to handle 
some of the most satisfactory flowers and vege- 
tables, but the inexperienced owner of a small 
greenhouse who wishes to make rapid progress 
should practice with every plant and seed that comes 
his, or her, way, until all the ordinary operations 
have become as easy as falling off a street car with 
him. Mistakes will be made, and disappointments 
occur, of course, but only through these can skill 
and efficiency be obtained. 
