8 INTRODUCTION. 



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book, such plants as it may be convenient to cultivate, 

 and immediately set about the work. 



Most of those who cultivate flowers, have not the 

 convenience of a hot-house, but derive nearly the same 

 advantages from the use of the parlor, which is thus 

 most tastefully ornamented by the works of nature, 

 assisted by the hand of art. 



During those seasons of the year, in which there are 

 no frosts, the plants thrive much better in the open air, 

 and all those which are unable to resist the frosts, must 

 be brought into the house during the cold nights of 

 spring and autumn, and removed to the open air during 

 pleasant days. In large cities, few have ground enough 

 to afford a garden of any convenient extent ; citizens are 

 obliged, consequently, to place their flower-pots, during 

 the warm season, in the yard, which is often confined 

 to the space of ten or twenty feet square. Even those 

 who have a garden, do not always have it in their power 

 to select the proper situations. It should, however, be 

 as nearly level as possible, to prevent the rains from 

 washing away the soil. It should be freely exposed to 

 the sun, all day if possible, or otherwise as much of it 

 as practicable, and defended from northerly and west- 

 erly winds. 



