82 
LADIES’ FLOWER GARDENER. 
rule to trust no plant less hardy than a common Geranium uut- 
side the window all night, earlier than about the twentieth of 
June, or later than the first of September. No doubt there are 
many nights before the first of these times, and after the latter, 
during which the plants might remain in the open air without 
injury. There is, however, no knowing what a night may bring 
forth at those inconstant seasons, and therefore the safe plan is 
not to leave the plants to chance. 
When, as often happens, plants get slightly injured by rost, 
cold water should be sprinkled on them before the sun reaches 
them, and this sprinkling ought to be continued as long as any 
appearance of frost remains on the foliage. 
Water is often very injudiciously applied to plants in rooms, 
and the evil arises from falling into the opposite extremes of too 
much and too little. Fear of spoiling the carpet, forgetfulness, 
and sometimes a dread of injuring the plant, are the chief causes 
of an under supply of water. On the other hand, many have a 
notion that such plants should be watered every day, or at stated 
periods, without inquiring whether it be necessary or not. Saucers 
or pans are often placed under flower-pots to prevent the water, 
which escapes, from soiling the apartment, but in these cases the 
saucers should be partly filled with gravel, to prevent the roots 
from being soaked with water, or the water which lodges in the 
saucer should be removed. 
Fanciful and elegant baskets of wire or wicker-work, and plant- 
tables are, perhaps, preferable to common stages. The baskets 
should have a pan, of zinc, copper, or other metal, and over this 
a bottom pierced with holes, or a grating of wire, on which the 
pots are to be placed. The pan is generally about an inch deep, 
and has a plug or other contrivance by which the surplus watear 
may be drawn. Plant-tables can be constructed in the same man¬ 
ner, and admit of an endless variety of forms, according to the 
