Temperance prolongs life ; and this maxim may 
as truthfully be applied to our Cyclamen as to 
prudent men; for the very plant, from which our 
flowers were gathered for drawing, is nearly, if not 
exceeding, forty years old. We, ourselves, have seen 
its beauty, periodically, for more than thirty years, 
and it is now in vigorous health and flower, a foot 
in diameter, betraying not a symptom of age or 
debility. The lady to whom it belonged, (for she 
is now no more,) kept it in the same pot for many 
years. After flowering she gradually decreased its 
usual supply of water till it became quite dry ; it 
was then laid aside and unseen, till the beginning 
of winter, when it was again taken into the sitting 
room, and supplied sparingly with water, till in 
flower. When in full beauty, dispensing its grate- 
ful fragrance, a more free supply of water was given 
it, and continued till its time of rest again returned ; 
and thus it ran its course of years and sweetness. 
This variety of Cyclamen Persicum — the pink- 
eyed, is the handsomest; hut the clear white, 
which is an accidental variety, is the most rare, 
and is likely to continue so, on account of its seed- 
lings resuming their original colour. Some with 
flowers wholly pink have been raised from seed; 
and it is equally variable in regard to fragrance, 
some plants being highly perfumed, whilst others 
are completely inodorous. 
Equal parts of loam, leaf-mould, and silver sand, 
form an admirable compost for the Cyclamen. 
Some cultivators prefer plunging the pot with its 
inactive tuber, into a dry border, during summer, 
to letting the roots become wholly dry. 
