168 



PnACIICE OF GARDEXIXG. 



doubted vv-liether it is not, after all, a very unsafe and 

 inexpedient practice. A cool and rather shaded situation 

 is also recommended as most suitable, and therefore they 

 should never be planted in a bed or border where they 

 vrill be much exposed to the sun, which weakens the 

 plants, and also the blooms, and causes the colours of the 

 latter to sport. A rich moist soil will be preferable to 

 much shade ; and care shotildbe taken to have the plants 

 removed at such a season, that they get well estab- 

 lished, and their roots amply protected by the branches 

 and leaves, before ciry weather generally occurs. A 

 small bed of heartseases, in which the sorts are well 

 arranged according to their various colours, has a most 

 interesting and imposing appearance when the whole 

 are in flower ; and if the soil and situation are suitable 

 it will present to the eye one dense mass of blossoms. 

 Vrhen the shoots grow too high, or too stragiilmg. it is a 

 good plan to place a little soil on the lower extremity of 

 them, and slightly press them down to the earth, which 

 will much invigorate them, and cause them to throw out 

 new roots. 



Plan's in Pots. 



There is no class of plants which can be ctiltivated by 

 the cottager, that is so injudiciously treated, or so badly 

 grown, as those which come within the limits of this 

 article ; and yet there is, perhaps, none which is more 

 generally interesting. Nearly every person possessing a 

 house of any description, appears emulous of obtaining 

 and cultivating a few plants in pots ; but^ being very 

 generally ignorant of the manner in which they should 

 be managed, they are seldom seen in a healthy or 

 flourishing condition, and still less frequently are they 

 grown in the perfection to which they are capable of 

 being brought by proper and judicious cultivation and 

 management. Xor is this deficiency more attributable 

 to ignorance than inattention or prejudice : for many 

 persons consider that, if they place their plants in pots 

 in some way or other, and keep them constantly watered, 

 they cannot fail to thrive : but a more erroneous 

 conclusion could not be possibly come to, for the 



