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HINTS FOR THE FLOWER-GARDEN. 
these " plants of the stream" would make a gorgeous spectacle ; but the naturally 
upright, tree-like form of at least some of them, should be converted into that of 
a somewhat spreading bush. To do this, it will be necessary to use the knife 
with more freedom than it commonly is on this family. An old specimen, headed 
down to near the bottom of the stem, will soon push out a sufficient number of 
shoots for the purpose ; and old plants, in their ordinary state, are far from being 
the ornamental objects they might and would be if better provided with shoots, 
foliage, and flowers, in the lower parts. In general, they exhibit only a long 
naked stem with a few branches, and imperfectly grown, and yellow-coloured 
leaves at the summit ; so that it is utterly impossible that they can flower, or, 
at least, that they acquire sufficient organizable matter to bring a large truss of 
flowers to perfection, and continue to present a healthy aspect. Besides the 
superior look which the bushy specimen has, the long stem being entirely got rid 
of, the sap has no longer to pass through and support such a long channel of 
wood before it reaches and contributes to the enlargement of leaves and flowers. 
But perhaps, for exhibition, a young plant would produce the best specimen. 
The lower branches must of course be bent outwards, and the upper ones stopped 
back now and then, as they are developed, to keep them from growing too high, 
to encourage the protrusion of more shoots, and to throw additional vigour into 
those beneath, which are necessarily placed in a more recumbent position. 
Perhaps the best situation for plants intended for this purpose would be a pit, 
where they might be stationed near the glass, with perfect command over heat, 
moisture, and ventilation. By this plan the wood would be much shorter 
jointed, than if the plants were set in a stove on an ordinary stage or platform, 
and the cultivator would more easily regulate the period of blossoming. 
The splendid appearance of these plants, and the degree of neglect with which 
they are often regarded, must be our plea for the length to which this paper is 
extended. Our principal aim has been to draw attention to them : nevertheless, 
there is sufficient in the general observations embodied to point out the nature of 
the cultivation they ought to receive. 
HINTS FOR THE FLOWER-GARDEN. 
When we reflect that the Flower- Garden is one of the principal sources of 
attraction in the pleasure-ground during the summer months, and the most 
prominent and chief feature in all grounds of limited extent, we cannot but feel 
surprise at the very prevalent neglect of some of those things most essential to its 
perfect appearance, which are so conspicuously observable both in the formation and 
management. 
In the formation of flower-gardens people are too apt to be led away by the 
