14 GA RDENING BY M YSELF, 



dian juggler with his snakes. Fm not par- 

 tial to earth-worms. They are one little 

 drawback to the pleasure of gardening. 



The plants in general looked ver}^ peaked 

 when I came home; first from being shut 

 up in a cold room, but much more from being 

 shut up in a hot one, where they were well 

 nigh killed with kindness. I bear freezing so 

 much better than roasting, myself, that I 

 gave them full sympathy. Water and light 

 and cool air, with a little fresh soil and clip- 

 ping, have improved their appearance ; and 

 as the room to which I first removed them 

 is still too warm and dr}^ with its stove-heat, 

 I have devoted one window and a large 

 slice of our little study to flower stands, and 

 the rest retire into private life in a room 

 of n<j particular temperature ; there to 

 " worry through " the winter, as somebody 

 (I think Mr. Henderson) calls it. 



This being the time of year which the 

 cactus tribe choose for their long sleep, T 

 have left my two plants of that persuasion 

 on a tall cabinet in the warmest place I can 



