72 breck's new book of flowers. 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF PLANTS IN THE 

 PARLOR. 



" Descemling snow, the golden leaf and sear, 

 Are indications of old Time's career ; 

 The careful florist tends his sheltered plants, 

 Stiidies tiieir natures, and supplies their wants." 



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

 dispensable to the female portion of the family, or to in- 

 valids who have a taste for flowers. 



A choice collection of plants, in the sitting-room or par- 

 lor, will add much to the charms of home ; but as we 

 often see them, weak, straggling, drawn up, crowded to- 

 gether, and infested with insects, they give pain rather 

 than pleasure. 



The clear sunlight through the window, is far prefer- 

 able to a congregation of coarse earthen j^ots and sau- 

 cers, 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, or want of water, are the general causes of 

 the sickly state of plants, to which may be added, unsuit- 

 able compost or mould. Saucers under the pots, if water 

 is suffered to stand in them, are injurious, though neces- 

 sary for the sake of neatness ; never, therefore, suffer the 

 water to stand in them, nor to be poured into them. The 

 water should always be given on the surface, but never 

 unless the surface is dry, and then for most plants, only 

 in moderate quatitities. Rain water only should be used, 

 and that of a mild temperature, but not warm. When 



