A gallant gardener, discoursing on parlor plants, introduces his readers to feminine charming collars, and neat, spotless, embroidered wristbands, and says: "A lady is none the less a lady, if she dispenses with these latter accessories at times, and must do so if she would have pleasure and success in gardening. I have been thanked with a look of amazement that said as plainly as possible: ' What a thoughtless, careless thing I have been V when, on turning up my sleeves, spreading the fingers and palm of the left hand over the surface of the soil in the pot, and turning the head of the plant topsy-turvy into a pail of water, moving it briskly several times through it; then setting it upright, and washing every leaf, upper and lower side, between the fingers and thumb; then swinging it again through clean water, and setting it once more in its position as pleasing a gem as a queen could wish to have in her company. There are many plants a disgrace to windows, because, from something like despair, the owners never try to keep them clean. Nimble fingers would soon make all the filth disappear.

I have seen more time spent in a morning, in unavailing regrets, than would have sufficed for setting adrift every insect and dust spot from their favorites.

"The above mode of action is applicable to all smoothish-leaved plants, as myrtles, camellias, oranges, &o.; and if a little soap is dissolved in the first water, and in the washings before the last swingings, so much the better. When, on examining the foliage, you find that it is supplied with bristly hairs or down on either side, then a sponge will be preferable to the fingers. In all other cases, the fingers will be best, as no mechanism can ever be made to equal them. It will also be advisable, in all cases, for beginners to have a piece of loose cloth to place over the surface soil of the pot before the palm and fingers are placed across it with one hand, while the other hand, holding the pot, reverses the top of the plant in the water. The cloth thus held prevents the soil dropping out, and when the plant is set upright,,and you are washing or sponging the leaves, the filth obtains no entrance to the soil. When finished, scratch off a little of the surface soil, replace with a little fresher, and if the pots are likewise clean, all will then look comfortable".