288 ROOMS— PLANTS IN ROOMS. 



sickly. Therefore, have them always placed as near the 

 light as possible, and receive as much air as can be admitted, 

 when the weather will allow, and occasionally, in fine days, 

 carry them out of doors, and give them a sprinkling of 

 water all over. 



2d. Injurious watering does more injury to plants in rooms 

 that many persons imagine; and it is very often to be ob- 

 served that some individuals destroy all with too much, and 

 others kill all with too little of that nourisher of health. To 

 prevent the soil ever having a dry appearance is an object 

 of great importance in the estimation of many : they, there- 

 fore, water to such an excess that the soil becomes sodden, 

 and the roots consequently perish. Others, as we have said, 

 run to the opposite extreme, and do not give sufficient to 

 sustain life, and this is a more common practice than that of 

 too much. The best plan is, always to allow the mould in the 

 pot to have the appearance of dryness, but never sufficient to 

 make the plant droop before a supply of water is given, 

 which should then be copious and thoroughly going to the 

 bottom of the pot; but always empty it out of the saucer 

 or pan in which the pot stands: the water used should 

 always be of about the same temperature as that in which 

 the plants grow; avoid using it fresh from the pump. 



3d. Being over-potted in unsuitable soil. This is also a 

 crying evil, and large pots invariably given to weak plants, 

 with the view of causing them to grow; but such practi- 

 tioners are like the unskilful physician who gluts the weakly 

 stomach of his patient, only hastening on what they are 

 trying to prevent. With weak plants the very reverse should 

 be practiced, giving small pots to encourage their roots out- 

 ward : whereas, the earth in a large pot to a small plant, 

 with frequent waterings, soon becomes sour and stagnated, 

 and utterly obnoxious to the roots of even the strongest 

 growing plants. If the directions and table of soils, in this 

 work, are properly followed up, unsuitable soils will rarely 

 occur, especially when each genus is separately treated. 



In fact, we have yet to be convinced why all plants, with 

 the exception of a few tropical, and those belonging to Eri- 

 cese and Epacridece, will not grow and bloom well in rooms 

 and windows. With the following monthly instructions, 

 and executing them properly, failure will seldom occur; but 

 where failure should occur, we would call particular attention 



