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ladies' flower gardener. 



The water which is supplied must not be colder than that which 

 is withdrawn, or than the general temperature of the apartment. 

 Much heat is not necessary for such plants, because they flower 

 better the more slowly their vegetation proceeds. Chimney- 

 pieces and other warm situations are not nearly so well adapted 

 for those bulbs as stages near the window, or the window-sill 

 itself. 



A better mode of growing those bulbs than the common mode 

 in glasses, would be in a table with a deep pan, and a wire grat- 

 ing on the top. This might be placed about nine inches from the 

 bottom of the pan, and the roots arranged on it, the taller ones 

 in the center, and those of more lowly growth towards the sides. 

 The water in the pan might be drawn off by a plug, and fresh 

 water supplied, without in the least disturbing the plants. 



Bulbs may also be grown in fine white sand, kept constantly 

 moistened, and in this way very beautiful blooms may be obtained. 



NOSEGAYS AND CUT FLOWERS. 



Though these are very acceptable to most persons, there are 

 few who rightly understand the art of keeping them long in a 

 fresh state, or of reviving them when they have faded. It is 

 true, that when a flower or branch is cut off from its parent plant, 

 its support is thereby destroyed ; but still some flowers may be 

 kept in great beauty for a much longer period than others, and 

 many for a far longer time than is generally done, or even sup- 

 posed possible. 



For this purpose, flowers should be gathered early in the 

 morning, but not till the dew be nearly dried off them. They 

 should be placed in a flat basket, or on a tray, so as not to press 

 upon and crush each other ; and they should be neatly cut, and 

 not mangled or bruised. When thus gathered, they should be 



