AN EXPLANATION OF TERMS 



example, if I told him to strike his Geranium cuttings, 

 and he promptly struck their heads off ! Or to take his 

 Chrysanthemum buds, and he promptly took them off ! 

 How little satisfaction would he derive from my explana- 

 tion that I did not mean he should actually strike 

 the plants with his walking-stick, but that he should 

 cause them to form roots! And again, that I did not 

 intend he should take away the Chrysanthemum buds, 

 but that he should leave those I had indicated and 

 take others away ! I am afraid his consolation would 

 bring him little joy. He would be strongly inclined to 

 wonder why on earth didn't I say so ! 



If I tell the reader his vines will " bleed," will he not 

 have doubts as to my sanity ? And if I advise him to 

 keep the atmosphere of the greenhouse " sweet," will he 

 be tempted to sugar it ? How is he to know that a 

 Raspberry clump is a stool, while a Lily of the Valley 

 root is a crown ? If I talk about pink " pipings," will he 

 think involuntarily of " piping times of peace," and 

 wonder why they should be pink ? Does " greasy turfy 

 loam " sufficiently explain itself ? If I tell him to " pot 

 on " his plants, will he wonder what is the difference 

 between " potting on " and " potting off," or else have 

 doubts as to what he is to pot them on ? If he learns 

 that he can only grow some gorgeous exotic in a " stove," 

 will be promptly put it in the gas stove ? Why shouldn't 

 he ? for if a stove means anything at all, it means a 

 heating apparatus. 



27 



