Twenty- four] OtlS 2 55 



frequently known people to break a branch from 

 plants they were handling, with the expectation of 

 being told to keep it. The remedy for this sort of 

 thing is to immediately place it in the ground with 

 some remark about having a place for it. 



Don't supply with cut flowers, plants, and the like, 

 people who spend more money for unnecessary lux- 

 uries than you do for your whole garden, and then 

 tell you how foolish you are to spend so much time and 

 money, and work so hard for your flowers. Don't 

 be too deeply impressed with the sudden friendship 

 at gardening time of the woman who has managed 

 to get along without your society all winter. Don't 

 be imposed upon by the chronic plant-beggar, but 

 suggest to her that you will be glad to lend your cat- 

 alogues; that in them she will find, at reasonable 

 prices, all the things you have in your garden; and 

 that the florist will doubtless be glad of her patronage. 



Don't, on the other hand, be lacking in generosity 

 of the right sort. Flowers may be given to rich and 

 poor alike, and carry no hint of obligation, or unfit- 

 ness. To the tired worker who has neither time nor 

 space to cultivate them, a handful of flowers, or a 

 potted plant, which can be spared from your abun- 

 dance, will make a bit of sunshine well worth the 

 trouble. For many who cannot spare the trifling 

 amount a single plant or packet of seed would cost, 

 the surplus plants from flats or hotbeds will be a 

 great pleasure, and one should not wait for re- 



