16 Milady's House Plants 



Causes of Success or of Failure 



It is evident that many people realize -that there 

 is something wrong between themselves and their 

 plants, owing to their continual assertion that nothing 

 will grow for them. These same people remember how 

 everything that their mother touched grew and 

 thrived, but fail to remember the care and attention 

 that she bestowed upon them in order to attain those 

 results. Many attribute failure to some occult in- 

 fluence or some peculiar antipathy that the plant 

 has toward their particular personality. This is 

 unfortunate not only because it is untrue, but because 

 it closes the mind to learning.. 



Indeed, the essential causes of success or of failure 

 are generally so simple and easily explained that no 

 one need waste time searching for them in deep and 

 mysterious places. When we consider how much 

 pleasure may be gathered from the cultivation of 

 flowers and with what tender and affectionate regard 

 they are held by almost everyone who has once be- 

 come acquainted with them, it is surprising that the 

 study of their habits and needs is not more thorough 

 and general. 



In the following chapter, we will try to analyze 

 this phase of the question and get together under a 

 few headings the conditions that are essential to the 

 well being of nearly every plant. 



