Waterinh. 75 



regard to watering. It is largely a matter of intuition. 

 A nameless something, that comes to the individual 

 only throiigh close observation and careful study, and 

 then only as he develops daily an aptitude for grasping 

 the situation. I have known those who performed this 

 important work by rule. Every morning at just such 

 an hour, cold or hot, wet or dry, syringing was done, 

 and to save early firing as fall weather came on, all 

 ventilation Avas closed early in the afternoon. It is un- 

 necessary to add that these methods were not productive 

 of pecuniary success. Even now, as I write (December 

 15th), a letter of inquiry reaches me from a beginner 

 wishing to know why the outer petals cling and de- 

 cay on the buds in his house. A question easy of solu- 

 tion without seeing the conditions. Either too much 

 water or too little air, or both combined and admin- 

 istered injudiciously. 



One finds pen and ink to be poor and imperfect me- 

 diums through which to convey to another the elements 

 of success in this most diflficult part of the work attend- 

 ing artificial growth. I wish I could describe it, but it 

 is beyond the power of pen or tongue. It is like the 

 blind girl yearning for knowledge. Her delicate touch 

 brings her in contact with form, and that form imparts 

 to her mind language in embryo, until by the most per- 

 sistent effort, and constant watchfulness, words, sen- 

 tences, language, is at her command. So in this. To the 

 delicate touch and watchful eye it comes as by intui- 



