202 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



— Noisette and China roses. Freezing and thawing at the 

 crown of the roots, destroys them oftener than anything 

 else. 



On mild days when the earth is open, sow lettuce seed in 

 a warm corner, beat it gently with the back of the shovel, 

 and cover it slightly with fine earth or old crumbling 

 manure. You will have lettuce ten days earlier for your 

 trouble. Pepper-grass and radishes may be sowed in like 

 manner. 



1®^ Let alone the knife and saw. Your vines and trees 

 will not be benefited by any pruning at this season. 



PARLOR FLOWERS. 



Water freely such as are in pots, while in blossom. 

 The flower stalks will be apt to shoot up taller and weaker 

 than in the garden, and will require rods to support them. 

 Let the rod be thrust down about two inches from the cen- 

 tre of the floAver, and attach the flower stem to it by one 

 or two ligaments. Flowers in small stove rooms can 

 be kept in health with extreme difficulty. The heat forces 

 their growth, or injures the leaves. They should be 

 washed off once a week (either on a mild day out of doors, 

 or in a warm room within, if the weather be severe), as the 

 dust settles upon the leaf, and stops up the stomata 

 (mouths) by which the leaf perspires and breathes. If 

 green aphides infest them, put a pan of coals beneath the 

 stand, and throw on a half-handful of coarse tobacco. In 

 half an hour every kisect will tumble off. Let such as lie 

 on the surface of the earth, be removed or crushed, as they 

 will else revive. Plants should have fresh air every day. 



