THE RESTING-SPELL 



who has just such whims who grows fine 

 plants, and it is the one who ridicules him 

 who is always wondering why her plants don't 

 do better. 



Nature allows the plants under her manage- 

 ment to rest nearly half the year, and— ^Nature 

 knows what she is about. A plant that has 

 made vigorous growth and produced large 

 crops of flowers during the season must be 

 given an opportunity to recuperate and store 

 up vitality for another growing and blooming 

 period before it gets down to work again, if 

 you expect it to give satisfaction. This rest 

 it will take if you give it a chance. It will 

 cease to grow. It will probably shed a good 

 many of its old leaves. While it is dormant — 

 resting by standing still — it should be encour- 

 aged to make its rest as complete as possible 

 by giving it a treatment that will have no 

 tendency to excite it to action. Use just 

 enough water to keep it from wilting. This 

 will not be much, as the feeding-roots will 

 have temporarily suspended activity. There- 

 fore the need of water will be slight. On no 

 account should any fertilizer be used at this 

 period. Not only does the plant not need it, 

 but it is in a condition that makes it impossible 



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