108 THE PARLOR GARDENER. 



garets (China-asters), balsams, tagetis (French 

 and African marigolds), petunias, and coreopsis ; 

 and to these sowings you will be indebted for this 

 part of the decoration of all your balconies and 

 of your flower- stand. For, upon a balcony with 

 a southern exposure, may be made to grow, from 

 the seed, plants, not only for yourself, but for all 

 your friends and acquaintances besides. 



Precautions against the Sun. 



But the success of this part of your gardening 

 depends on one precaution, for the want of which 

 all would fail. The ardent sun of the summer 

 must never strike directly on the outside of your 

 pots. 



In their natural situation, the roots of plants, 

 plunged into the soil, receive only a heat tem- 

 pered by the coolness imparted to them by the 

 soil beneath. In pots, on the contrary, the ex- 

 tremities of these roots, which line the inside of 

 the pot, and which are the most tender part of 

 them, are liter alty burnt when the sun shines on 

 its external surface. You must not think that 

 repeated waterings will remedy this : if you water 



