146 
THE FLORIST. 
PARLOUR GARDENING. 
[In a work of this hind, where we are obliged to sprint an even quan¬ 
tity of pages, say 16, 20, 24, 28, and so on, we cannot avoid 
matter lying over, until, like the two following papers, it seems 
quite out of date. We wish our correspondents to know that their 
contributions have been in print from the month they were re¬ 
ceived, but we could not conveniently insert them earlier, —Ed.] 
Mr. Florist, —I live in the heart of a country town, with no gar¬ 
den to look into ; hut am very fond of flowers, and though my 
means are but slender, I afford myself a little parlour-garden, as an 
in-door pleasure at this season. I have one room with a north, 
another with a south aspect, and for my benefit and that of other 
flower-lovers and keepers at home, I hope you will give a few hints 
on the management of parlour-gardens. Some of us cannot afford 
expensive flowers, much as we may admire them; and shall I tell 
you that it only cost me five or six shillings to procure my present 
gaieties. And what a fund of pleasure and thankfulness, may I say, 
to God, have these few bulbous roots given me ; what instruction 
also from day to day! In the dull month of November 1 put two 
narcissus and three hyacinth roots in water, and half-a-dozen early 
tulips, with some crocuses and snowdrops, in pots. The first lesson was 
patience ; the brown, withered-looking, unshapely bulbs, said nothing 
but “ Wait!” The next lesson was hope ; the promising green taught 
that very plainly. I could not quarrel with my roots because they 
did not grow equally strong and fast, though it is quite true they 
had all the same advantages, and some people would say they ought 
to have done so. At this very moment the narcissuses, which 
looked like twins when they came into my -parterre, and 
were placed in similar glasses with just the same quantity of water, 
air, and light, are as unlike in their growth as can be. One has 
shot up nearly twice as high as the other, spending itself in leaves, 
and the delicate flowers are just bursting out of their green sheath; 
perhaps the short one that looks so strong, and has not wasted itself 
so much in foliage, wull have a brighter and more lasting yellow crest 
by and by. However it be, the variety is to me dehghtful. Then 
the hyacinths, I am quite content they did not burst in one day. 
The double-white came out first—ten blossoms on one stalk—eight 
on another;—did you say, Mr. Florist, that one should have been 
cut off to improve the other ? So it should wuth your principles; 
but my own were to enjoy the latter spike of flowers after the former 
had withered, and to please an unpractised eye, not that of a con¬ 
noisseur. The odour is filling my little room still, reminding me 
at all times of my pure and silent guest. This fair hyacinth, and all 
other flowers, herbs, and trees springing out of rough unsightly roots 
or bare seeds, speak of the resurrection glory of the just; but the 
emblem, beautiful as it is, can never come up to the reality: one 
rises to die again, the other can die no more. The second hyacinth 
bore the colour of a deep blush, or the tint of the early morning sky 
