64 WINTER GREENERIES AT HOME. 



Even many of the perennials require the light and heat 

 of summer for their greatest work, and when it is done, 

 they insist upon having a long period of rest and recu- 

 peration. But, happily for us, some rare specimens seem 

 to be endowed with a genius for blooming. After due 

 preparation, they give us their flowers even in winter 

 time, not only in greenhouses, but under the less favor- 

 able circumstances of our rooms, requiring only the sun- 

 shine's potent aid ; and they continue flowering with as- 

 tonishing persistency, according to the amount of their 

 natural vigor, or so long as they continue to grow. Of 

 course, such plants are specially worthy of your acquaint- 

 ance. Let me introduce a few. 



ROSES, by common consent, must lead the floral train ; 

 and here they come from the most remote quarters of the 

 globe from Japan, China, Bengal, the south of Europe, 

 etc. If they have stopped on the way, it has been with 

 some hospitable florist, for the purpose of taking new 

 roots from "cuttings" of their twigs, thus to multiply 

 their number for the million of such as you. Strangely 

 enough, they join the march of modern civilization, and 

 travel by express or by post on the fastest trains of the 

 railways, as if in haste to receive your greetings. What 

 a magnificent titled company they are Dukes and Duch- 

 esses, Princes and Princesses, almost without number ! 

 And their apparel well, I leave the description to you ; 

 but I am very sure that if they have not been in league 

 with the rainbow and borrowed its hues, they have been 

 like the rainbow in the splendors of the sun. And yet, 

 with all this royal display of titles and robes, they wait 

 to become your most gracious guests and faithful friends. 



As to the select particular few whom your rooms can 

 Well accommodate during the winter, I am furnished 

 with their cards, which I here present : 



Louis PhilUppe, from China or Bengal, bright crim- 

 son ; a profuse bloomer. 



