APPENDIX 



TO FIRST EDITION. 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF PLANTS IN THE PABLOR. 



" Descending snow, the golden leaf and sear, 

 Are indications of old Time's career ; 

 The careful florist tends his sheltered plants, 

 Studies their natures, and supplies their wants." 



A FEW plants in the house are desirable, or even indispensable, 

 to the female portion of the family, or to invalids, who have a 

 taste for flowers. 



A choice collection of plants in the sitting-room or parlor will 

 add much to the charms of home ; but as we often see them, 

 weak, straggling, drawn up, crowded together, and infested with 

 insects, they rather give pain than pleasure. 



In this state, the clear sunlight through the window is far 

 preferable to a congregation of coarse earthen pots and saucers, 

 with their sickly occupants. Judging from what we too often 

 see, cultivators in parlors have very erroneous ideas of what is 

 necessary for a perfect development of their plants. In fact, the 

 plants are often killed with too much kindness ; too much heat, 

 too much water, want of light and air, and want of water, are 

 the general causes of the sickly state of plants, which have often 

 fallen under our notice ; to which may be added, unsuitable com- 

 post or mould. Saucers under the pots, if water is suffered to 

 stand in them, are injurious, but necessary for the sake of neat- 

 ness ; never, therefore, suffer the water to stand in them, nor to 

 be poured into them. The water should always be given on the 

 surface, and never water unless the surface is dry, and then in 

 29 



