Flora Domestica

As I reside in town, and am known among my friends a lover of the country, it has often happened that one or other of them would bring me consolation in the shape of a Myrtle, a Geranium, an Hydrangea, or a Rose-tree, &c. Liking plants, and loving my friends, I have earnestly desired to preserve these kind gifts; but, utterly ignorant of their wants and habits, I have seen my plants die one after the other, rather from attention ill-directed than from the want of it. I have many times seen others in the same situation as myself, and found it a common thing, upon the arrival of a new plant, to hear its owner say, Now, I should like to know how I am to treat this ? Should it stand within doors, or without? should it have much water, or little ? should it stand in the sun, or in the shade ?”

Even Myrtles and Geraniums, commonly as they are seen in flower-stands, balconies, &c., often meet with an untimely death from the ignorance of their nurses. Many a plant have I destroyed, like a fond and mistaken mother, by an inexperienced tenderness; until, in pity to these vegetable nurslings and their nurses, I resolved to obtain and to communicate such information as should be requisite for the rearing and preserving a portable garden in pots. This little volume is the result; the information contained in it has been carefully collected from the best authorities; and henceforward the death of any plant, owing to the

Libros

Flora Domestica: Or, The Portable Flower-garden : with Directions for the ...