OR, HOW I BECAME A FLORIST. 85 



Determined to master the subject, I went to work to study 

 it out. The book began by saying that a hot-bed was neces- 

 sary. Perhaps so ; but I had no hot-bed, and I knew not 

 how to make one. To be sure, another chapter informed me 

 how to prepare one ; but the whole process was quite beyond 

 me. Then I came to the words, "Prepare seven-inch pots 

 with the usual drainage." There I stopped. "Seven-inch 

 pots and drainage." I declare I can make nothing of it all. 

 I might guess what " plunging " meant, and I could under- 

 stand how to tell a good bulb, if I saw it, and how much it 

 should cost. I learned also that each bulb would produce 

 from twenty to thirty flowers, after which it was valueless, 

 and must be thrown away. So much for book-farming and 

 the pursuit of knowledge under difficulties. I know what I 

 will do, I will attack Mr. McTernan, and make him tell 

 me all about it in the minutest detail, till I fully under- 

 stand the whole. By this time it was getting towards sun- 

 down, and I resolved to return to my raking. Going to the 

 tool-room, I found the rake was gone. Well, this is pleasing, 

 no tools to work with ! Seeing Johnny near, I asked him 

 if he had seen the rake anywhere. 



" Yes, Uncle Joseph came in and took it." 

 Now, I have no objection to lending tools, but I should 

 like to be consulted first. Having no rake, I could do noth- 

 ing ; so I went back to the tool-room to inspect my stock in 

 that line. If I am going to be a gardener, I must have 

 suitable tools, and everything in good order. The tool- 



