THE MAGAZINE 



OF 



HORTICULTURE. 



FEBRUARY, 1852. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. The Importance of Cleanliness to Plants. 

 By the Editor. 



Few persons, we apprehend, are aware of the great impor- 

 tance of cleanliness to plants, and the influence which it 

 exerts upon their health, vigor, and growth. Indeed, if we 

 were to judge from the appearance of plants grown in many 

 of our greenhouses and conservatories, we should suppose 

 there was, in reality, no use in paying any attention to clean- 

 liness, and that, beyond a liberal supply oY water at the root, 

 there was as little need of any upon the foliage, unless for 

 the simple purpose of neatness, as if water formed no element 

 of vegetable growth. There is no doubt but that the foun- 

 dation of disease in many plants, cultivated under glass, can 

 be traced to the neglect of cleanliness of their foliage ; and 

 that camellias, oranges, daphnes, and similar broad-leaved 

 evergreen shrubs, are kept in an unhealthy state for want of 

 that ablution which is so necessary to the vigor and growth 

 of every living plant. For when placed out of the reach of 

 that great natural element of cleanliness, rain, it is as nec- 

 essary that plants should be artificially kept in a clean condi- 

 tion, as that they should be supplied with air or light. 



"If as much washing were bestowed, in London," says 

 Dr. Lindley, " upon a pot plant as upon a lap-dog, the one 

 would remain in as good condition as the other. The rea- 

 sons are obvious. Plants breathe by their leaves : and if their 



VOL. XVIII. NO. II. 7 



