Any one holding a public position, where flowers are grown, will soon find out that ladies not only love flowers but take great interest in their culture. If we look at the humblest cottage window we are almost sure to see plants therein. A flower-pot may be something the poorer cannot reach, and so a box or broken dish takes its place; yet they would not consider their house complete without the plants. It often happens that ladies call on me for advice; and they are always ready to receive it in a good spirit, even when against what they think is right; and they are ever ready to give their neighbors the advantage of what they have learned. A lady came to me about a Cactus, which she could never get to flower; but before she could get a chance to speak to me on the subject, she had been telling another what her trouble was. " I have one, and it blooms every year most profusely," said this lady, "and I will tell you how I treat it: In the fall of the year, when I take in my plants, I put my Cactus up in the garret, where frost cannot reach it, and give it no water, unless it shrivels up very much.

In early spring, I take it down and clean it, put it in a sunny window, water it, and very soon I see the flowers starting." I had overheard what was passing, and when she came to me I told her just to go and do as her friend had advised her, and, no doubt, the same results would follow.

There are three principal errors that I have found ladies fall into with their plants; all connected with watering, and these are, the giving of too much water, too little of it, and watering freely when plants are sick. A healthy plant needs abundance of water, but it must drain away quickly. There are but few plants that will live in health with stagnant, water at their roots. When you see your plants not growing fast, diminish the quantity of water, especially if they show signs of sickness. The reverse is the course generally adopted. Remember that plants will become exhausted by over-exertion, just as a person will. You must give them a time of rest, or nature will become worn out, and disease will follow.

Ladies love plants much more than gentlemen do. If you watch a lady and a gentleman go through a collection of plants, you will observe the lady to be the more inquiring of the two. She admires and smells the flowers and asks many questions as she moves along. But the gentleman passes along, casting only a partial glance, asking but few questions, unless he happens to have studied their culture, or in some way has made himself familiar with them. I have often told ladies, when I saw this occur, that if they want time to examine plants they had better leave the gentlemen at home, for they, as a general thing, will not give them time to Ho so.

It has always seemed to me that ladies were naturally better adapted than men to care for the more beautiful portions of nature's work. Some time ago I was shown a floral wreath, for which I had given the flowers. It was made by a young lady to decorate the remains of a departed school mate. Her hand was untutored to such work, yet, I must say, there was a natural beauty and delicacy in its arrangement that the rougher hand of man could hardly give; points of excellence were there that more expert and practical hands often fail to reach.

There is a saying, "Show me a person that loves flowers and I will show you one that has a warm heart gushing forth joy and pleasure to all around. It may be hid under a rough exterior but like the flinty rock when broken open has gems within that sparkle and dazzle the eyes." I wonder if it is true ! I think it is, though, perhaps, the rock is not always struck hard enough to show its treasures. Supt. Govt Grounds, Canada.