CHAPTER V 



THE HANDLING OF THE PLANTS 



There is a knack in the successful handling- of plants that 

 it is impossible to describe in print. All persons can improve 

 their practice through diligent reading of useful gardening lit- 

 erature, but no amount of reading and advice will make a good 

 gardener of a person who does not love to dig in a garden or 

 who does not have a care for plants just because they are plants. 



To grow a plant well, one must learn its natural habits. 

 Some persons learn this as if by intuition, acquiring the knowl- 

 edge from close discrimination of the behavior of the plant. 

 Often they are themselves unconscious of this knack of knowing 

 what will make the plant to thrive ; but it is not at all necessary 

 to have such an intuitive judgment to enable one to be even 

 more than a fairly good gardener. Diligent attention to the 

 plant's habits and requirements, and a real regard for the plant's 

 welfare, will make any person a successful plant-grower. 



Some of the things that a person should know about any 

 plant he would grow are these: — 



Whether the plant matures in the first, second, third, or 

 subsequent years; and when it naturally begins to fail. 



The time of the year or season in which it normally grows, 

 blooms, or fruits; and whether it can be forced at other 

 seasons. 



Whether it prefers a situation dry or moist or wet, hot or 

 cool, sunny or shady. 



Its preferences as to soil, whether very rich or only moder- 

 ately rich, sand or loam, or peat or clay. 



Its hardiness as to frost, wind, drought, heat. 



116 



