JULY. 
149 
and then, sprinkling them well overhead, leave them out of doors for the 
night, returning them to their accustomed places in the morning. Ere “ thrice 
the space that measures day and night” had passed away, my adversaries 
would again be finding a lodgment on my plants. All the careful watchings 
I gave them, and the gentle cleansings to which they were subjected, seemed 
of no avail; and, more than that, the hydropathic process to which they were 
exposed, seemed to impair the vigour of the plants. So completely were the 
Fancies devastated by these pests, that I had to cut them down, and have 
placed them in a sheltered spot at the back of the dwelling-house, that I 
employ as a kind of infirmary, and where, at the moment of writing, they are 
fast breaking out into healthy shoots, that I hope will escape any future 
visitation of the living epidemic, and yet repay my attention and anxiety. 
The leaves of the large-flowering kinds became margined with brown, the buds 
withered up, so that I was obliged.to cut down two of them. They are now 
growing vigorously also. The others are no nearer flowering than when I 
received them. 
But now a set-off of successes. Two plants of Azaleas, a scarlet and a 
white, sent to me when just emerging into bloom, has startled the neighbour¬ 
hood. They held right regal state till they threw off their blossoms, and with 
them their powers to fascinate. In a “shady nook” they are rapidly making 
Avood for next year’s display. Some Fuchsias in pots are very gay; they are 
suffering from a kind of semi-starvation in small pots—the sun plays in upon them, 
and brings out a profusion of flowers. A double Petunia is rapidly becoming 
a good specimen. It was a miserable plant when I purchased it in the street; 
but I transferred it to a large pot, where it has increased in size tenfold, and 
in a week or so will be covered with blossoms. A couple of good varieties of 
Zonale Geraniums, some Musk, a brace of Heliotropes, a pot of Acroclinium 
roseum, fast coming into flower, make up the present occupants of the window. 
About four times a-week the plants are carefully removed, thoroughly sprinkled 
and cleansed, and by this means I keep them in good health. I water freely 
in the mornings, when the sun shines in full force; when it is gloomy, I 
regulate the quantity of water accordingly. 
I have Bhodanthe Manglesi, Balsams, Mimulus, Petunias, &c., coming on 
for succession. Lilium lancifoliums are making rapid headway towards 
blooming time, so that I shall have no lack of subjects till the early-flowering 
bulbs will be on the eve of their annual advent. The box in the window, lately 
occupied by Crocuses, is now a miniature flower garden. Tom Thumb Scarlet, 
and variegated Flower of the Day, and Alma Geraniums, are blended with 
A.urea floribunda and Prince of Orange Calceolarias. These form a rear rank. 
The front row is composed of Ivy-leaved Geraniums, Nierembergia gracilis, 
and Lobelias speciosa and Paxtoniana. This last is an extremely handsome 
variety, and deserves all that has been said in praise of it. All these in the 
front of the box I have carefully drawn and fastened over it, and they grow 
with luxuriance, and flower profusely. When preparing the soil for my box 
I found myself “ hard up ” for the article, and had to economise what I had, 
poor as it was. I hit upon the expedient of laying at the bottom some vege¬ 
table refuse, chopped fine, and mingled with the soil a small quantity of guano. 
The plants thrive famously in it. It was a risk, but one that has returned 
good interest, and proved a fortunate speculation. 
Two large Fuchsias, in nine-inch pots, stand at the ends of the box; they 
are treated exactly as I described the mode in my opening paper of the 
series. They grow rapidly, and promise to be gay and elegant specimens. 
Twice a-day I sprinkle them overhead, and give them good root-waterings as 
they require it. 
