THE PARLOR GARDENER. 17 



fession say ought to be done, and as they do in 

 their greenhouses. If you travel in Belgium, in 

 Holland, in the north of Germany, a country 

 where parlor gardening is very much in repute, 

 you will see that all who have flowers in their 

 rooms (and every body has) place them conspic- 

 uously upon itagtres painted green, which gives 

 to entire streets the appearance of a floral exhibi- 

 tion. There is a street in Brussels, where, if you 

 wish to see a continual display of gardening and 

 botany, you have nothing to do but to walk along 

 and look at the windows on each side. And you 

 might, in your walk, get some useful hints with 

 regard to the kinds of ornamental plants you wish 

 to cultivate in your parlor. 



Ventilation. 



After water, heat, and light, the continual re- 

 newal of air for your plants is most necessary. 

 If your room is warmed by a good open fireplace, 

 which draws well and gives you a clear fire with- 

 out smoke, so much the better ; the draught of 

 the chimney renews sufficiently the air of the 

 apartment: both your own health and that of 

 2 



