6 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



Where taste really does exist, there is a manifold plea- 

 sure to the mind that serves to preserve the human life 

 more essentially than appears to the common observer. 

 This may appear strange ; but when we reflect on the sol- 

 ace the mind undergoes at leisure moments, even to the 

 . business man the evenness created in the temper the 

 pleasurable change he experiences after the pursuit of busi- 

 ness all tend to create in the mind that which it stands 

 in need of, a blissful /teling^ an incentive that keeps the body 

 in health and vigor. The occupancy of Gardening after 

 the business of the day is over, if not thus passed, would be 

 in luxury or temporary pleasure which would only debili- 

 tate the mind and constitution. That part of Gardening 

 which relates to the culture of plants is of easy manage- 

 ment, and does not require the skill so generally supposed 

 or bestowed on them. Many plants are killed by kindness, 

 when it should be borne in mind that plants, like the human 

 family, require a state of rest, therefore should not be kept 

 always in a growing state. For instance, a person deprived 

 of his natural rest becomes eventually unfit for his avoca- 

 tion ; not only that, he must live regular, or. he will never 

 be vigorous or of a healthful habit. Plants are living 

 things ; nature has not endowed them with speech, itis true ; 

 still, by watching them close, there are certain signs in 

 their appearance so apparent that will convince the cultiva- 

 tor that, if not treated correct in their habit, a different sys- 

 tem must be adopted. Therefore, to come as near nature 

 as possible, our understanding should teach us that plants in 

 pots should be repotted into fresh soil in their season ; that 

 is, when in a state of rest, and be watered only when grow- 

 ing, to make them healthy, and the soil should be as near 



