288 ROOMS — PLANTS IN ROOMS. 
sickly. Therefore, have them always placed as near the 
light as possible, and receive as much air as can be admitted, 
when the weather will allow, and occasionally, in fine days, 
carry them out of doors, and give them a sprinkling of water 
all over. 
2d. Injurious watering does more injury to plants in rooms 
that many persons imagine ; and it is very often to be ob- 
served that some individuals destroy all with too much, and 
others kill all with too little of that nourisher of health. To 
prevent the soil ever having a dry appearance is an object 
of great importance in the estimation of many : they, there- 
fore, water to such an excess that the soil becomes sodden, 
and the roots consequently perish. Others, as we have said, 
run to the opposite extreme, and do not give sufficient to 
sustain life, and this is a more common practice than that of 
too much. The best plan is, always to allow the mould in the 
pot to have the appearance of dryness, but never sufficient to 
make the plant droop before a supply of water is given, 
which should then be copious and thoroughly going to the 
bottom of the pot; but always empty it out of the saucer 
or pan in which the pot stands : the water used should 
always be of about the same temperature as that in which 
the plants grow ; avoid using it fresh from the pump. 
3d. Being over-potted in unsuitable soil. This is also a 
crying evil, and large pots invariably given to weak plants, 
with the view of causing them to grow ; but such practi- 
tioners are like the unskilful physician who gluts the weakly 
stomach of his patient, only hastening on what they are trying 
to prevent. With weak plants the very reverse should be 
practised, giving small pots to encourage their roots outward : 
whereas, the earth in a large pot to a small plant, with fre- 
quent waterings, soon becomes sour and stagnated, and utterly 
obnoxious to the roots of even the strongest growing plants. 
If the directions and table of soils, in this work, are properly 
followed up, unsuitable soils will rarely occur, especially when 
each genus is separately treated. 
In fact, we have yet to be convinced why all plants, with 
the exception of a few tropical, and those belonging to Eri- 
cese and Epacridese, will not grow and bloom well in rooms 
and windows. With the following monthly instructions, 
and executing them properly, failure will seldom occur; but 
where failure should occur, we would call particular attention 
