200 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
nurses and tends his flower for its own sake, and not on the sordid 
consideration that it belongs to him and not another. 
Ever since we began our floral labours, the queries of corre¬ 
spondents have furnished evidence that this, the very foundation 
of the art, is the subject upon which florists are especially in want 
of information. In turning to the short note upon C^assula coc- 
cinea, in a subsequent part of this month’s publication, the reader 
will find that a correspondent,—and a very intelligent corre¬ 
spondent,—brought that plant to the gates of death, by not know¬ 
ing its geographical habit, and thus giving it water at a time when 
it should have had none. 
This instance very naturally determines the particular branch 
of the philosophy of floriculture to which it will be best to direct 
the few remarks which we have room to make in the present 
number. This is the application of water to plants ; and it refers 
equally to them in all situations, whether they are grown in borders 
and beds, in window-pots, or in more extensive places of protec¬ 
tion, such as conservatories or stoves. There are great differences 
in respect of the quantity of water which plants can bear, without 
being materially injured by it; but, with the exception of such as 
grow wholly submerged, there are none that may not be hurt by 
an over supply at some stages of their growth. This holds true 
even of plants of the most aquatic habit, provided that they flower ; 
for in every instance it is essential to the perfection of a flower 
that it should come to the surface and be for some time dry. 
Plants which propagate in an entirely submerged state never have 
distinct flowers ; and even the fungi, which are flowers brought 
forward by the autumnal rains, melt away without producing any 
fertile spores, if those rains are too long continued. The principle, 
indeed, is a perfectly general one, modified in innumerable ways, 
no doubt, according to the varying nature of plants, but still in 
itself one and invariable. Inflorescence, or the act of impregna¬ 
tion, which is the natural purpose of all flowering, must be per¬ 
formed in dry air and not in water. We have proof of this every¬ 
where around us ; for, in orchard, in cultivated field, in garden, 
and in wild nature, an over-rainy season during the flowering is 
invariably accompanied both by decreased numbers and beauty, 
and diminished fertility of the flowers. Any one who chooses 
may verify this by his own observation, in what part of the country 
soever he happens to be situated ; and if this is the case with an 
