CHAPTER VI 



AN EXPLANATION OF TERMS 



If I advise the reader to keep the atmosphere of his greenhouse 

 sweet, will he be tempted to sugar it ? 



IF I were writing a book in some obscure patois, there 

 might be an excuse for the inclusion of a chapter on 

 the explanation of terms, but in a simple book on flowers 

 and gardening surely it is unnecessary. I can imagine 

 the reader thus soliloquising, but let him wait until he 

 has heard me out. If I tell him to keep a " buoyant " 

 atmosphere in his greenhouse, to " strike " a Chrysan- 

 themum cutting, to " line " his frame, to take a " piping," 

 to mind that his seedlings do not " damp off," to " stop " 

 this plant, to " thin " that, to " put a little air on," to 

 " close early," to " harbour sunheat," and use a score 

 and one idioms dear to the heart of the trained gardener, 

 will he be able to interpret them fully and realise their 

 meaning ? But for my own sake I feel that I am justified 

 in giving an explanation of terms. These words are so 

 expressive (especially when one understands their applica- 

 tion !) that I am always liable to lapse ; might I not thus 

 bring down upon my innocent head the rightful wrath of 

 the inexperienced home gardener ? How dreadful, for 



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