106 
THE FLORISTS JOURNAL. 
Bulbs, speaking generally, are not well adapted for window 
culture ; and those who will have them for a year—they will not 
keep their good qualities longer in such a situation—had better 
procure an annual supply from the nurseries. The best suited 
for this purpose is the hyacinth ; and if an amateur is supplied 
by a skilful nurseryman, and the plants are of choice and valuable 
quality, the nurseryman may so preserve them as that they will 
yield good blooms again and again before they are exhausted. 
The amateur must, however, distinctly understand that he cannot 
do it himself, if he has only windows to grow his plants in. In 
fact, a window gardener had better leave altogether alone what 
are called florist’s flowers, unless he is contented to purchase and 
sacrifice them the same year. 
e have pointed out the extremes which limit the window 
florist, both in latitude and elevation ; and we may remark, that 
the more equally these extremes are departed from, and the more 
nearly they are blended together in a medium climate, the plants 
are always the better for his purpose. It maj 7 , however, in 
geneial be said, that an apartment has, upon the whole, a higher 
and more uniform temperature than the open air outside the 
building ; and this must be studied in the selection of the plants. 
Then, in the next place, the plants should be such as to endure 
a great deal of rain, if it falls heavily and for short periods of time. 
The watering of plants, even in the most careful manner in which 
it can be performed, is quite different from the natural watering 
by the dew of heaven. It is given in copious quantities, and the 
giving is soon over. The plants of Southern Africa, which are 
upon the slopes and rocks towards the South Sea, receive pelting 
showers at times when not a drop of rain falls in the interior. Of 
these plants, one is the pelargonium, or geranium tribe, and the 
other the heath, many of the species of which, in Southern Africa, 
are exceedingly beautiful. The geranium takes so well with 
window treatment, that it may be considered as the general 
window flower ; and though the heaths are very stubborn things 
to rear, and require different soil and treatment, still with due 
care they make fine window shrubs ; and flowering shrubs which 
do not run too high are the best plants for this sort of culture. 
The Rhododendrons, the Kalmias, some of the Andromedas, and 
the Daphnes, and all the tribe of flowering plants which prefer a 
peat soil, can also be grown in windows ; and unless they are 
