CHAPTER VIII 
THE GROWING OF THE ORNAMENTAL PLANTS — INSTRUCTIONS 
ON PARTICULAR KINDS 
In the preceding chapter advice is given that applies to groups 
or classes of plants, and many lists are inserted to guide the 
grower in his choice or at least to suggest to him the kinds of 
things that may be grown for certain purposes or conditions. 
It now remains to give instructions on the growing of particular 
kinds or species of plants. 
It is impossible to include instructions on any great number 
of plants in a book like this. It is assumed that the user of 
this book already knows how to grow the familiar or easily 
handled plants; if he does not, a book is not likely to help him 
very much. In this chapter all such things as the common 
annuals and perennials and shrubs and trees are omitted. If 
the reader is in doubt about any of these, or desires information 
concerning them, he will have to consult the catalogues of 
responsible seedsmen and nurserymen or cyclopedic works, or 
go to some competent person for advice. 
In this chapter are brought together instructions on the grow- 
ing of such plants commonly found about home grounds and in 
window-gardens as seem to demand somewhat special or par- 
ticular treatment or about which the novice is likely to ask; 
and of course these instructions must be brief. 
It may be repeated here (p. 115) that a person cannot ex- 
pect to grow a plant satisfactorily until he learns the natu- 
ral time of the plant to grow and to bloom. Many persons 
handle their begonias, cacti, and azaleas as if they should be 
350 
