conceive, more than a dozen persons 
at this time in the neighbourhood of 
London, who are in any degree cele- 
brated for growing strong healthy 
plants, producing fine rich blooms ; 
or, in other words, who can bloom 
this flower in perfection ; and they 
have to boast of recipes and nos- 
trums, arcana unknown to all but 
themselves. And where is the man 
we find ready and willing to disclose 
the secrets of his trade, business, or 
profession, by which he obtains his 
livelihood, and by which he has ac- 
quired a superiority over his fellows ? 
If any one should by chance succeed 
in obtaining a good and suitable com- 
post, he most likely will fail in some 
other essential point. I have known 
many persons grow this plant toler- 
ably well till the time of blooming, 
and then fail, for want of knowing 
its proper treatment at that critical 
