164 
THE LADIES FLORAL CABINET. 
for all the trouble they will cause you by the increase 
in quantity and quality of bloom. We woxild advise the 
growing of young plants, such as are intended for the 
flower-garden for summer blooming, to be grown in soil 
without manure, providing the sod was heavy, and 
taken from rich soil. Plants grown in such a soil wiU be 
perfectly healthy and vigorous, and when planted out 
in the rich soil of the garden, they will have strength to 
assimilate all the food there is in store for them, and 
they will make a far stronger and more rapid growth 
than if started in a very rich soil where aU the other con¬ 
ditions of growth were unfavorable. We believe the 
almost universal satisfaction that the roses grown by the 
Dingee & Conard Co. give, is due to this one cause of 
being grown when first taken from the propagating 
benches in soil, as above described, without manure. 
In their vast estabhshmeut they use this soil and no 
other for aU their young plants. The same may be said 
of Peter Henderson, who grows plants in endless variety, 
and all -without ‘ ‘ special ’’ soils. He has but one compost- 
heap, and that is sod; he, however, we believe, for the 
sake of rapid gro-wth, mixes some manure -with the sod 
when it is piled up. This makes plants faster, but whether 
better, is a question. We do not say that some soils are 
not better for certain plants than others, and that good 
peat or leaf-mold would not materially benefit a stiff 
clayey soil for exotic plants. On the contrary, we say that 
certain plants are indigenous to certain soils and localities. 
and -will thrive better in tlieir native soil than anywhere 
else; yet a soil in w'hich any plant is found in its native 
state is not necessary for its perfect development. 
And further, we know from our own experience that 
many plants will not succeed as well in a soil that is 
natural to them, if grown in a different country, where 
the climatic and other influences are entirely different; 
for instance: the Cactus, or at least most of this genus, 
is found wld, growing in dry, arid wastes; now introduce 
them into om- greenliouses, and undertake to grow them 
in soil brought from their native habitats, and the result 
-will be a failure. Why ? Simply because the other con¬ 
ditions of giwvth are not the same: there are not the 
same elements in the atmosphere here as in their native 
homes; eai-th and air must work in harmony together to 
produce the plant. 
Again, we do not wish to be understood as saying that 
all plants can be grown in a clayey or sandy soil; we 
know' very well they cannot. But we wash to say that 
the soil and atmosphere in any given locality are fitted 
for each other; so that any plant that you may wish to 
introduce into your garden, will, if properly cared for, 
succeed quite as w'ell, if not better, than if artificial soil 
■were procured. Work well the soil you have; if poor, 
give it food; put out your plants at the proper time, and 
you will, if imijossibilities are not expected, be satisfied 
with the results. 
The best fertilizer for all crops is brains. 
LOVE-LETTERS MADE OF FLOWERS. 
An exquisite invention tliis. 
Worthy of Love’s most honeyed kiss,— 
This art of -writing billet-doua; 
In buds, and odors, and bright hues! 
In saying aU one feels and thinks 
In clever daffodils and pinks; 
In puns of tulips ; and in phrases, 
(Dharming for their truth, of daisies; 
Uttering, as well as silence may. 
The sweetest words the sweetest way. 
How fit, too, for the lady’s bosom ! 
The place where hiUet-doux repose ’em. 
What delight in some sweet spot. 
Combining love with garden plot. 
At once to' cultivate one’s fiowers 
And one’s epistolary powers 1 
Growing one’s o-wn choice words and fancies 
In orange tubs, and beds of pansies; 
One’s sighs, and passionate declarations. 
In odorous rhetoric of carnations; 
Seeing how far one’s stocks will reach. 
Taking due care one’s flowers of speech 
To guard from blight as well as bathos. 
And watering every day one’s pathos I 
The flre-fly only shines when on the wing; so it is 
■with the mind; when once we rest we darken. _ Bailey, 
Flo-wbbs, leaves, fruit, are the air-woven children of 
light.—ifoieschoff. 
A letter comes, just gathered. We 
Dote on its tender brilliancy. 
Inhale its delicate expressions 
Of balm and pea, and its confessions 
Made -with as sweet a maiden's blveh 
As ever mom bedewed on bush: 
(’Tis in reply to one of ours, 
Made of the most convincing flowers.) 
Then, after we have kissed its -wit. 
And heart, in water putting it 
(To keep its remarks fresh), go round 
Our little eloquent plot of ground, 
And with enchanted hands compose 
Our answer,—all of lily and rose. 
Of tuberose and of violet. 
And little darling (mignonette); 
Of look at me and can me to you, 
(Words, that while they greet, go through you) ? 
Of thoughts, ot flames, forget-me-not, 
Brideu:ort,—m. short, the whole blest lot 
Of vouchers for a lifelong kiss,— 
And literally, breathing bliss! 
—\Leigh Bunt. 
God feeds the wild flowers on the lonely mountain 
.side without the help of man, and they are as fresh and 
lovely as those that are daily watched over in our 
gardeM. So God can feed his oym' planted ones -without- 
the help of man by the sweetly-falling dew of His spirit- 
