WINDOW GARDENING. 55 



A good plan is, to set over night a large pan of water 

 among your flowers, then you will be sure of a sufficiency 

 of water of the proper temperature for the morning water- 

 ing. If this is too much trouble, remember in watering, it 

 is better to have the water too warm than too cold, that is, 

 of a higher rather than a lower temperature than the roots 

 and branches. Now as to the quantity of water. No rule 

 of universal application can be prescribed. What is life to 

 one class of plants is death to another. The amount of 

 water necessary to make a calla lily thrive would kill a 

 cactus or a heath, and yet the drought necessary for the 

 cactus would be death to the heath. 



A good rule, however, is never to allow the soil to 

 become dusty or muddy, and with drainage in potting the 

 latter is easily prevented; by regular waterings, the for- 

 mer. Particulars of treatment for different plants will be 

 given when treating of each plant. 



Never allow water to stand in the saucers of the pots 

 unless the plants are semi-aquatic. 



POTS. 



Choose the common flower-pots, selecting those which 

 are light colored rather than those which are brick red ; the 



