852 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



July 



The blossom of the wall-flower is craeifonn— 

 shaped like the Maltese cross— having only four 

 petals in its natural state. By cultivation the 

 stamens have been changed to petals— thus mak- 

 ing it double ; as is often the case in plants— the 

 violet, for example. But from being raised in un- 

 suitable soil, or by neglect, they are apt to return 

 to their original habit of bearing single flowers. 

 The wall-flower, when raised from seed, seldom 

 blooms till the second year in the garden; but 

 plants can be potted in September, and, with prop- 

 er care, will bloom in the house as winter flowers, 

 and then be transplanted to the garden in May, 

 when cuttings should be taken to form other 

 plants for the next winter. These cuttings will l)e 

 obtained by pruning the parent plant, which it will 

 then need ; and care must be taken that both the 

 old plants and the new cuttings are set in very rich, 

 light soil, or they will become single. A bed of 

 rich loam and decayed vcgetalile matter, or leaf- 

 mould, with the addition of sand— to make it light 

 — will be the most suitable arrangement for them 

 till the M\. Then take what you wish for the 

 winter, and .fill pots one-quarter full with cinders, 

 and upon-this an inch of compost made like that 

 which formed the bed, and remove to this the 

 plants, with a ball of soil about their roots. Fill 

 in the compost lightly, and press it gently with the 

 potting-stick, to make it firm. Water them often, 

 but little at a time, and keep them in the shade a 

 week or ten days ; then let them have the sun- 

 shine. In October bring them to the parlor, and 

 give them liquid manure, as you do pansies, and 

 verbenas, and petunias. Those bearing dark-col- 

 ored flowers are the most hardy, as also the most 

 fragrant; and are more flagrant at night than 

 through the day. With proper care a wall-flower 

 will live sevei-al years and bear an abundance of 

 beautiful flowers. Stocks, sometimes called stock 

 gilliflowcrs, are often confounded with the wall- 

 flower, which they resemble in some respects ; but 

 they belong to a different genus, and are only an- 

 nual plants,— very seldom living beyond their first 

 summer. 



We have now gone through our list. It was not 

 intended to include all plants that are cultivated 

 in the house, but I trust that the selection presents 

 sufficient variety, both of form and color, to suit 

 the most fastidious. If any of my renders have 

 parlor plants which have not l^een mentioned here, 

 I hope tlicy will try to acquaint themselves with 

 the propensities and habits of each one, individual- 

 ly ; and, by comparing these observations with the 

 descriptions and directions furnislied above, l)e 

 enabled to give every plant its proper nourishment 

 and care. 



When you have decided what plants to cultivate, 

 and have arranged them so that they may receive 

 light, air, heat, and water to the best advantage, 

 don't ibrgct that regularity in supplying these re- 

 quisites is of the utmost importance. Set apart a 

 particular portion of each day to attend to them, 



and let that time be as early as possible after your 

 morning duties to your family have been per- 

 formed. Once a week a double portion of time 

 will be needed, to give both pots and plants a 

 thorough cleansing ; and that is all that they will 

 require besides these few minutes in the morning 

 of every day ; — unless you have among your num- 

 ber those whose full-blown flowers need a change 

 of position before the sun reaches its noonday 

 height, or others that must have a second water- 

 ing just before it sets. 



In the cultivation of plants you wish not only to 

 gratify your own taste, but to encourage in your 

 children a love of beauty and order, and to fur- 

 nish them with subjects for profitable conversation 

 and high and holy thought. So you will endeavor 

 to gather from every source, personal observa- 

 tion, intercourse with friends, and reading of 

 books and papers relating to the matter, all infor- 

 mation that can add interest to your plants or to 

 their culture. Let the boys and girls, themselves, 

 when they are old enough, help you in caring for 

 the flowers. As an especial favor, allow them to 

 claim ownership of one or more plants ; it is such 

 a proud day for a child when he, or she, can say 

 of anything living or growing, "It is my veiy own 

 — to use as I please," that I wonder parents do not 

 earlier and more frequently grant them this hann- 

 less indulgence. They are always glad of the means 

 thus furnished them for being generous and benev 

 olent ; and find nuich happiness in bestowing apret- 

 ty flower on a poor child who has looked with covet- 

 ous eyes upon the temptingdisplay in the window; 

 and in preparing little sui-prises of floral gifts for 

 father and mother, or other members of the fami- 

 ly, on birthdays and other festivals. With what 

 delight, too, they make tiny bouquets, or gather a 

 few geranium leaves for a beloved teacher, or a 

 sick friend. And, then, if death comes, and their 

 bright faces are shadowed by solemn thoughts, 

 how many beautiful lessons of love and hope and 

 trusting faith the flowers can teach them, as their 

 trembling fingers weave them into emljlems of 

 sorrowing affection. And as they lay these gifts 

 upon the last resting-place of loved ones, will they 

 not be reminded of the gi-eat mystery of the re- 

 sm-reetion ; and calling to mind the insignificant 

 seed from which so much loveliness has arisen, 

 can they not more clearly comprehend the mean- 

 ing of the blessed words, "God giveth it a body as 

 it hath pleased Him. It is sown in corrui)tion, it 

 is raised in incorruption ; it is sown in weakness, 

 it is raised in strength ; it is sown a natural body, 

 it is raised a spiritual body. For this corruptible 

 must put on incorruption, and this mortal must 

 put on immortality." 



If the children thus share in owning your plants, 

 they will be quick to render assistance in promot- 

 ing their welfare,— and this will not be slight, nor 

 of small importance. A girl of seven years old 

 can take as good care in watering plants, and in 

 clearing them of insects, as a grown person, and 



