110 
REMARKS ON THE CULTURE OF A FEW ORNAMENTAL PLANTS. 
most simple rules are, not to put too many flowers together in a glass, to chaHpj 
the water every morning, and to remove every decayed leaf as soon as it appea4 
cutting off the end of the stem occasionally as soon as it shows any symptoms k 
decay. A more efficacious way, however, is to put nitrate of soda in the wate'? 
about as much as can be easily taken up between the forefinger and thumb, pu 
into the glass every time the water is changed, will preserve cut fiowers in all tb; 
beauty for above a fortnight. Nitrate of potash (that is, common saltpetre) i 
powder, has nearly the same effects, but it is not quite so efficacious.” ^ 
Whilst, however, the observations quoted embrace some of the principal poiii 
for the preservation of cut flowers, the exclusion of a dry or disturbed air actii; 
upon the flowers themselves, is perhaps more effectual in prolonging their beaut 
It is preferable to retard the loss of fluid matter through insensible perspiraticl| 
than to trust entirely to supplying that loss. For this purpose the Hopean staj[j| 
and glass cover is a useful contrivance. These stands are now manufactured I 
ornamented stone and china wares (similar to that employed for the new Hyacirli 
pots) instead of japanned metal ; and are not only equally effectual for 
object intended, but more elegant ornaments in themselves. In conjunction wii 
the directions of Mrs. Loudon, this mode of excluding air will be found capablejfj 
retaining flowers perfect for a much longer period than above stated ;—a consideil-1 
tion of some importance, where flowers are scarce, (especially during winter,) or|y| 
keep blossoms of a rare kind as long as possible. 
REMARKS ON THE 
CULTURE OF 
PLANTS. , 
A FEW ORNAMENT 
In estimating the value of different plants in an ornamental light, we natural 
enough follow their mere appearance as they are oftenest found, without taki 
into consideration the ease or the difficulty of making them what they are ; a 
whether there may or may not be a likelihood of benefiting them by supplyi 
common omissions in their routinal tendance ; or varying some feature in th 
culture for one that would appear more feasible. Thus, if a growler supply hims 
with a miscellaneous collection of plants, comprising species of rapid growth wii 
soft shoots, and others of harder and more woody stems and increasing slowly | 
size, and makes no difference in the way of treating them, he will rarely atta| 
any excellence either with the one or the other ; or it will be in proportion as 1| 
practice leans to the requirements of either of the two classes. And, moreover, 
demands less skill to manage a soft- wooded plant well, than it does to unfold t 
capabilities of a hard wooded, slow-growing kind ; hence, we are more apt 
condemn the latter, when the fault really rests only in our own ignorance 
mismanagement. 
