260 FIVE ACRES TOO MUCH. 



doctors describe as a loss of manly vigor; and as 

 these complaints are not referred to in horticultural 

 works, and as the medicines guaranteed to cure the 

 human frame could hardly be expected to benefit 

 them, I scarcely knew what to do. In despair, I 

 purchased some whale-oil soap, and proceeded to 

 wash the leaves with that highly-recommended com 

 pound. Perhaps whale-oil soap is not advantageous 

 in general debility ; perhaps it was made too strong, 

 or applied too often. Under its application, my fu 

 ture progenitors of bedding beauties perished faster 

 than ever. A solitary fuchsia, that had been pur 

 chased the spring previous, went early ; the roses fol 

 lowed precipitately; the daisies were not far behind; 

 the verbenas made haste after these ; the carnations 

 followed in this headlong race, until, in spite of the 

 most tender care, the most scientific nursing, the 

 most approved protection and artistic cultivation, ere 

 spring arrived, the entire collection was dead save 

 one that famous new seedling verbena of Patrick s 

 discovery. It still lived, not flourishingly nor en 

 thusiastically not as though it could endure much 

 more assistance but, as the pleasant days were near 

 at hand, exhibiting sufficient strength to . last till the 

 winds of heaven could be trusted not to visit its 

 cheek too roughly. 



