have been pinched back for later flowering, will now, with their blossoms at every joint, try, and in some cases succeed, in making one believe that they have more bloom than leaves. Most gratifying will it be to the young lady amateur in "greenhouse pets" if this result should attend her constant labour; for such it must be, though a pleasant one. Without care and attention to the removal of all withering leaves, and, above all, an incessant raid on the cause of all withering and premature death of plants-the aphis, more generally known as the green fly-constant disappointment will be experienced, and we shall look with regret, combined with pity, on our "greenhouse pets."

WINDOW PLANTS.

It should not be supposed, however, that it is only the fortunate possessor of a greenhouse who can be gratified with the pleasing sight of flowers in the room during almost every month of the year. With very little trouble and a moderate amount of care, specimen plants may be raised in the dwelling-house for window decoration, equal to and in many respects superior to those that have had the fostering care of the gardener, and the comfort and indulgence of the greenhouse. Almost all bulbs may be raised and obtained in perfection by planting them in pots in September, and putting them away in some spare room with a slate over each pot to exclude the light. They require no heat to force them, and only just sufficient watering to keep the soil from becoming dry. As soon as the leaves begin to show, remove the slate, and place the pots close to the light in some warm room or kitchen, and about the end of December you will be rewarded with a show of beautiful and sweetly perfumed blooms. Thus Hyacinths, Crocuses, Tulips may be procured; and even the Tuberose (the most odoriferous of highly-scented flowers, and a native of India) may be had in bloom if treated in the same manner. The scent of the tuberose is so very powerful, that although to some it may be grateful and agreeable, to others it is most oppressive, therefore it is wise to remove it during the night from the sitting-room, so that you may not inhale the pernicious odour the first thing in the morning. Doubtless many have experienced a sensation approaching almost to nausea on entering a room in which highly perfumed plants have been closely confined during the past night. The best bulbs of the tuberose are imported from Italy. It is better not to risk the possibility of disappointment by endeavouring to preserve the bulb for house culture for two consecutive years: the expense is but trifling of purchasing fresh ones, and newly imported bulbs should be grown for window decoration annually. Those that have been grown in the house during the winter may be planted in the garden the next year, not too close to each other, but some twelve or fourteen yards apart, and they will diffuse a most delightful fragrance during the summer and autumn months. To persons living in or near large towns, or in the neighbourhood of factories from which any unpleasantness may be exhaled, the tuberose will prove most acceptable and welcome as a window friend.

Roses, also, may be grown to a state of great perfection in pots. A few tea-scented, with one or two free-blooming hybrid perpetuals, make a very nice variety in the window many months before they can be obtained out of doors. They should be treated in precisely the same manner as is adopted in the greenhouse. A few of the best roses for summer culture are Coup d'Hebe, Madame Ball, Paul Recaut; among the tea-scented, Gloire de Dijon, Devoniensis, and Sofrano will prove a nice variety. The Lily of the Valley, so well known for its delicious fragrance, may easily be made to bloom in the house by raising a few roots in the autumn, and placing them in pots, filled with rather a dry light soil. If you remove them into the house about the end of November, in the very early spring you will be rewarded with plenty of these elegant, sweet-scented, innocent-looking little flowers.

They who have travelled abroad and ventured into the different foreign market-places on the appointed market days in early spring, cannot fail to have been struck with the splendid specimens of China Asters and Balsams growing in pots. The culture of these is so simple that no one should be without a few of these ornamental annuals in the window. If you sow a few selected seeds (they should be imported ones) in pans about the end of February, and keep them in a warm room or kitchen, the seeds will soon germinate when the plants are suifficiently large (say about 1 inch in height), they should be pricked out n 4-inch pots, filled with light rich soil, carefully watered, and frequently examined to free them from the destructive attacks of the greatest of all enemies to indoor plants, viz., the aphis, which appears particularly partial to the China aster.

The Balsam may also be grown in the same manner, except that when

pricked out from the seed-pan, which should be done when the rough leaves show themselves, they should be placed in small pots, in which they must remain till the roots have well filled them; they should then be shifted into larger ones, until you have them in 4-inch pots. All blooms should be picked off until they receive this last move, which will make them branch out laterally, and also cause them to grow in height. By adopting this method, and with constant watering, we have ourselves grown specimens measuring more than 2 feet in circumference, and about the same in height.

The Yellow Jasmine is a very pretty and easily grown plant in the house, and has the prettiest appearance of all winter-blooming flowers, as its delicate green-coloured stems are covered with rich golden yellow flowers before a single leaf appears. It requires no trouble whatever, further than judicious watering.

Brompton Stocks may also be treated in the same way as the China asters, but two or three of these may be placed in a 6-inch pot, as, should one prove single, it may be removed. Great care should be taken in transplanting these from the seed-pan, as they have a long tap-root which must not be broken. Until they have recovered their removal they should be kept in the shade. The soil in which they will thrive best should be rich, from an old hotbed if possible; they should never be allowed to get thoroughly dry, but be watered every night. Treated in this manner, splendid specimens may be had, with spikes of rich scarlet or crimson flowers from 18 inches to 2 feet in length. It is true this flower is most generally grown out of doors, but there is nothing so gratifying to an invalid devotedly attached to his garden, and yet unable to leave the sick-room for months, as to have a glimpse of the brightness and sweetness of Nature's ornamentation, by the tender hands of those dear to him bringing him each morning one of his favourite plants in bloom, thus relieving him, it may be, of some few moments' sadness, and calling him back (if unhappily his trials should have been severe) to the beauties of Nature, and to Nature's God.

Geraniums should above all plants hold a conspicuous place in the floral decoration of houses, in the summer, autumn, spring, and winter. They may be had in bloom with very little trouble; indeed, treatment the same as described previously for greenhouse pets will ensure a succession of bloom. Some amateurs have lately introduced a fashion of growing Standard Geraniums. To enable you to have a good specimen of these, the plant should be kept growing for two or three years, and as the side shoots appear they should be immediately removed; at the expiration of the third year you will have a perfect tree geranium.

Ferns should also take a conspicuous place in the amateur's collection of flowers or plants for house culture; the foliage is so graceful and elegant that no bouquet is now complete without a mixture of this much sought after and generally cultivated plant. In the ornamentation of tables, too, these plants take a most prominent place. Plant cases (glass cases) may be purchased or cheaply made for the cultivation of ferns, by which the amateur will be relieved of a great amount of trouble in watering hyacinths

or other bulbs. China roses may be planted in one of these cases-in fact, any plant, according to fancy-in the latter part of October: they will commence blooming in January, and will not have required the least attention from their fortunate possessor until they have done blooming, and fresh plants are introduced in their stead. The soil being thoroughly saturated, will require no additional watering for months. By paying attention to the above simple directions, it is to be trusted that many young ladies, not enjoying the luxury of a greenhouse, may have a display of plants and flowers in bloom that will bear comparison with, and perhaps excel, "our greenhouse pets."

BOTANY.

"There is religion in a flower:

Its still small voice is as the voice of conscience.
Mountains and oceans, planets, suns, and systems,
Bear not the impress of Almighty power

In characters more legible than those

Which He hath written on the tiniest flower,

Whose light bell bends beneath the dew-drop's weight."

It has been said that "Botany is only to be learned in the fields." Very true; but then we must carry into the fields a certain amount of knowledge, by no means difficult of attainment, and of a most attractive character. The term Botany is derived from a Greek word signifying herb or grass; it is the science which treats of the structure and properties of plants, and teaches us how to distinguish them one from another. There are many facts connected with a knowledge of plants, which are not only interesting but

very useful. I will just show you what I mean. Samphire (Crithmum maritimum) grows wild on the sea shore, but is never covered by the water. A French vessel was driven ashore near Beachey Head some years since, and the whole crew washed overboard; four escaped by climbing to the top of a heap of rocks. They expected to be swallowed up by the waves every moment. At length one of them found a plant which he knew to be samphire; then they were convinced that the tide would not touch them, and waited patiently, until, at daybreak, they were seen and rescued by some people on the cliffs.

It is mentioned in Lord Anson's "Voyage Round the World," that the surgeon was so afraid of the effects of new and strange herbs upon the men, that he would sometimes forbid the use of all kinds of vegetable food except grass. Let us hope that this would not be the case at the present day. The great Crowfoot family (Ranunculace) consists of the burning and blistering species. The Poppy produces stupefaction. The Umbelliferous tribe is chiefly aromatic, but not always to be trusted. Geraniums are astringent; Myrtles fragrant and aromatic; Evening Primroses insipid. While no plant belonging to the great family of the Cruciferæ-i.e., cruciform or cross-bearing, having four petals placed so as to resemble a Maltese cross-is poisonous. As in all other sciences, so in Botany, there are certain terms which must be understood and remembered, and a habit of observation must be acquired without which the differences between one plant and another can never be remembered or appreciated. I dare say you already know that plants generally have five very distinct parts-root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit. Let us examine them. We will begin with the root: this is the organ which supplies the plant with food; it is generally buried in the ground. Roots are sometimes simple, long and taper, as in the Carrot, Parsnip, and Radish, sometimes flattened bulbs, as in the Turnip; branched, i.e., consisting of one principal stem sending out branches, and these again dividing into smaller (most trees and shrubs have branched roots); or fibrous, i.e., consisting of a quantity of long thin fibres, of different lengths and thicknesses, having still finer rootlets springing from them, as Wheat, Barley, and most of the grasses. The root of the Bladder-wort (Utricularia) has small hollow bubbles upon it. The Cyclamen and Dahlia have fleshy roots composed of one or more lobes; the Hyacinth, Lily, and Onion have bulbs, furnished with a flat base, and sending down fibrous roots. Some of the Orchids have roots consisting of two fleshy knobs: one is produced in the summer, and bears the stalk and flower the following year, when the old one withers and dies, and a new one begins to grow again. Some few plants there are, which, instead of deriving their nourishment from the earth, fix themselves on the trunks and branches of other plants, and live on their juices, as the Mistletoe (Viscum album), and the Dodder (Cuscuta). In the progress of decay some roots emit a phosphorescent light; the Potato in a state of putrefaction shows so strong a light that, it is said, you might read by it; and a story is related by Professor Lindley, (I think,) that an officer who was on guard at a barrack near Strasburg, thought during the night that the building was on fire, and upon examination found that the vivid light came from a heap of