392 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



sess that particular plant, and I let it go without a sigh, thinking the 

 experience worth perhaps the price of the plant ; so I am nothing out 

 only the labor, and the amusement pays for that. On the other hand, 

 if I am very much in love with that plant, and I see great possibili- 

 ties in it and think I know why I failed, I get another and try again 

 with the chances in my favor. Sometimes it happens that that plant 

 has more kinks than I ever dreamed of, and it refuses to grow or 

 even live under any treatment I have yet tried ; but if I am very 

 much interested in it and have a very great desire to bring it under 

 my control I make another attempt, when I may or may not suc- 

 ceed ; if I do not, I rarely go beyond the third trial but give it up, 

 thinking it is beyond my conditions — but sighing for a greenhouse, 

 when I should surely bring it under subjection. It is very hard for 

 a lover of plants to give up a much desired specimen as long as 

 there is a possibility of success, and there is a certain fascination 

 that lures us on to try again and again. 



I have a plant now, the third of that kind which I have purchased 

 within the last three years, and I am quite sure from its appearance 

 both in foliage and roots that it will soon be numbered with my many 

 failures ; but I shall not give it up yet. I know now just what is 

 the matter with this and also the preceding plants, and I am sure 

 to succeed with the fourth. I really did succeed with the last if I 

 only had been satisfied to have let well enough alone. 



There is a certain class of plants which all plant lovers covet, yet 

 they do not thrive with the best of care in ordinary dwellings, for 

 they can only be grown in a greenhouse, and even then many of 

 them must have special treatment. So we must leave them to the 

 experienced florist and content ourselves with admiring them as the 

 property of another and not as our own favorite possession. Then 

 there is another class, quite large too, larger than many think, de- 

 sirable too, that can be grown in our dwellings if we take the pains 

 to supply and surround them with normal conditions, such as exist 

 in their native habitat, and our success will be in proportion to the 

 exertions and means put forth to attain those conditions. In order 

 to be successful with this class of plants we should know the loca- 

 tions where they grow naturally, whether in tropical, semi-tropical 

 or temperate climates, dry or moist atmosphere, or mountain sides or 

 in valleys, in sunshine or shade. If one knows these points they can 

 much easier give to each the kind of treatment it requires rather than 

 a kind of general, haphazard one, which might suit some and be 

 entirely wrong with others. Therefore be observant how your plants 

 grow and how they deport themselves under treatment and act ac- 

 cordingly. Those of us who desire to keep this class of plants and 



