268 



ih4 iardsnjr's ^ontlilg. 



into such an error as to recommend a variety on 

 such grounds as these. 



We have gone into this matter at length, because 

 we think it a good opportunity to teach wisdom to 

 purchasers of new things. We have often said 

 what we now say, and cautioned the horticultural 

 community; but it is only when a catastrophe 

 occurs that people will really see. It is, therefore, 

 a good time to repeat, that when a new thing is 

 advertised as "better than anything ever known," 

 very much must be allowed for ignorance ; a little 

 for enthusiasm, and the rest may be of some value. 

 Generally, we think the raisers are honest. It is their 

 want of knowledge, and the purchasers desire to be 

 "ahead," that causes most of the trouble. 



The only drawback to a charitable view of the 

 Keyes' Tomato question is the following statement 

 of Mr. Keyes : — 



"My trial last year with the Prolific and the Tilden 

 was as follows : Sowed the seed of both at the same 

 time; twice transplanted each, and treated them 

 precisely alike. I had large clusters of the Early 

 Prolific, ripe 30 days before the Tilden had ripened 

 but one tomato. Eespectfully yours, 



C. A. Keyes." 

 And to this Mr. Hovey adds :— 



"We can only add, that having cultivated this 

 tomato the past year, and carefully watched the 

 growth and ripening of the fruit, we have found it 

 even more than all Mr. Keyes has stated, and we 

 have secured the seed in consequence of our per- 

 sonal knowledge of its great merits." 



It is fair also to add, that one correspondent in 

 Central Pennsylvania speaks warmly in favor of the 

 earhness and productiveness of this variety. We 

 have given some rules for judging of the value of 

 early and late testimony, and now as to the question 

 at issue — the real earliness of the variety, we must 

 let the weight of testimony decide. — Ed.] 



WINDOW GARDENING. 



BY ROBERT SCOTT, PHILADELPHIA. 



Read before the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 

 August 6, 1867. 

 There are perhaps few subjects connected with 

 gardening better deserving our attention than the 

 one under consideration to-night, when we consider 

 the almost universal love for flowers, and the desire 

 to have them, however adverse the circumstances 

 attending their management. There is, perhaps, 

 few houses in Philadelphia but have their Pot Plants 

 in every variety of style and position; some in fancy 

 vases and flower-pots, others in broken pitchers or 

 tea-pots, some succeeding, but the most part failing 



in their cultivation. To foster and encourage their 

 culture, and to lend a helping hand in assisting and 

 difi'using knowledge on this subject, have always 

 seemed to me to deserve more attention than they 

 have hitherto received. There is, perhaps,nothing in 

 nature that tends more to elevate the mind, and 

 bring into play the better feelings of our nature 

 than the love and cultivation of flowers; every seed 

 that vegetates, every leaf that expands, every shoot 

 that develops its leaves, every flower that burst into 

 bloom, awakens interest and leads us from nature 

 up to nature's God. 



Who ever saw a cottage window, with its well 

 filled and thriving collection of plants, that its at- 

 tendants were either lazy or slovenly in their habits. 

 It was the remark of the late B. A. Fahnestock, 

 that whenever he saw carefully cu.ltivated plants in 

 the window, he put down that housekeeper for an 

 industrious, cleanly, and frugal woman; and that he 

 had never known one who was really fond of flowers 

 to be bad or dissipated in her habits. 



In treating this subject, I shall endeavor to be 

 brief and to the point, and shall try to answer a few 

 queries asked me perhaps a hundred times in a 

 year ; the first generally is, how often shall I water 

 them, what kind of soil should I pot theai in, and 

 what temperature is best adapted to keep them in 

 a thriving state. 



First, in watering, there is perhaps more blunders 

 made than in any other part of their treatment: the 

 most taking it for granted they should receive water 

 every day, besides having the saucer the pot is 

 set in kept full of water ; the consequence is, in a 

 week or two the soil becomes sour, the roots perish, 

 the plants becomes sickly, and finally dies off. In 

 watering, there is no general rule can be laid down 

 how often a plant should be watefed, some will want 

 every day, others not for two or three days ; some 

 whose drainage is bad. and others who arc dormant, 

 may not want above once or twice a week. The 

 temperature of the room has also much to do with 

 the watering: if hot and dry, — some may want 

 oftener than once a day ; but never water a plant 

 that is not dry ; to know this, you can easily tell by 

 the soil— if dry, water thoroughly, that the soil get 

 wet to the bottom — if in a saucer, empty the drainings 

 out every time you water, as none but water plants 

 stand in it without injury. 



In watering hanging baskets, or vases, it is better 

 to take them down and water them well either by a 

 watering-pot, or if very dry, to dip them in a bucket 

 till thoroughly wet through, letting them drip before 

 hanging them up. It is well also to water over- 

 head, at least once a week, to clean off any dust 



