PARLOR OR WINDOW GARDENING. 243 



of bedding plants from the florist in May, all are taken 

 from the pots and planted in flower beds, to decorate the 

 borders for the summer months. By the first appear- 

 ance of frost in October, the plants of Bouvardias, Car- 

 nations, Fuchsias, Geraniums, Heliotropes, Roses, etc., 

 etc., that were such tiny slips when planted out in May, 

 are now, many of them, large plants, and in all their 

 glory of bloom ; but Jack Frost shall not have them, 

 t.iey must be saved. Pots are sent for, soil of the most 

 approved brand is procured from some florist high in the 

 art, the plants are lifted up with all care and placed in 

 the pots. Our amateur friend is in raptures ; as yet 

 they look just as green and flourishing as when growing 

 in the garden. But a day passes, and although they 

 have been shaded and watered with all care, the plants 

 somehow begin to show symptoms of collapse. The 

 Geranium leaves, that looked so green and well, are noAV 

 flabby. The Rose-buds, that held up their heads with 

 such pride, now look abashed and hang down. 



This state of affairs continues ; from the leaves being 

 simply wilted they begin to get yellow and shrivel up ; 

 by ten days many of the plants have died outright, and 

 the remainder are in a sad looking condition, that is dis- 

 heartening to the owner. 



No other result than this will ever be obtained with 

 plants treated in this manner. When florists wish to lift 

 plants of this nature in fall, two-thirds of the shoots 

 are usually cut off, and the plants put through a course 

 of treatment to induce them to strike new roots, that is 

 hardly ever in % the power of the amateur to apply ; but 

 even though we succeed in saving the plants, it is almost 

 always at the expense of the bloom, for few plants can 

 be lifted in bloom in October from the open ground, and 

 continue to blossom through the winter. Now, having 

 pointed out the errors, I will show the way to succeed in 

 obtaining healthy plants that will grow and bloom freely 



