ENGLISH FLOWERS 173 



It all depends on giving enough light and air with 

 a minimum of rain and sun, whether they can be 

 preserved or not. Although there are so many 

 beautiful indigenous plants that do well, we are 

 never satisfied without putting forth all our energies 

 to grow foreigners; the English home flowers in 

 particular. Such pampering, and petting, and 

 spoiling they get. Such sifting of earth for the 

 seeds ; such protecting from ants, by standing their 

 pans in other pans of water ; such shading from 

 too much sun during the day; such fine watering, 

 not to swamp them ! Yet in spite of all one's care, 

 they often run up leggy, tumble over and die, or 

 rot in a sudden shower of rain, that sometimes 

 three successive sowings have to be made. Ger- 

 aniums we desire much, but they are also " kittle 

 cattle." Last year we gave them too much room, 

 and they went to leaf principally, and every one of 

 them has departed this life during the rains. Now 

 we are going to start with a fresh lot in October, 

 from the hills, and keep them in pots, sinking 

 them in the earth ; and see if that will suit them 

 better, to be pot-bound ; then surround them with 

 blue lobelia and feverfew. Hey ! presto ! how 



