, 1863-02-19
0he farmers Corner.
Tha water Garden.


Ths manner Of cultIvating flowers in the
house has long been known, but as it is gen.
orally confined to hyacinths or other spring
bulbs, and glass is required for each bloom,
It has not become as general an addition 70
our parlors and sitting rooms as il should be.
A writer in magazine says: ave have re-
peatedly grown tulips, snow drops, and other
bulbous plants In saucers filled with damp
moss. and have thus procured some charm
ing ornaments for the sidebOard or breakfast
table," and then quotes from Q very old
book entitled A Flower Garden for Gen.
tlemen and ladies; or the Art Of Raising
Flowers without Trouble, to Blow in full
Perfection In the Depth Of Winter, in a
Bedchamber, Closet, or Dining room" The
author regards himself as the discoverer Of
the art Of growing flowers with water only.
He had at Christmas, besides the ordinary
bulbs, aine young salads" and "great dOu
bic daisies, red and white primfoses, and
striped polyanthuses." He says, "They
holrished in my glasses in as much perfec.
ton IS they would have done In summer" !"
His glasses were not prepared for the pur-
pose, but were make.shifts-anything that
he could pick up. He had some glass ba-
sins, larger at the top than at the bottom; to
these he fitted corks, which hoated upon the
water. In these corks be cut holes for his
roots, winch he placed in clusters to produce
. better eject when IN bloom. He describes
with great minuteness his manner Of tend
ing them-giving them little air, q great
d&l Of Light and not allowing the balloons
roots % Be covered with the water and Is
he was evidently lover Of flowers, they all
prospered in his hands. A rather curious
experiment Is also mentioned in the same ar.
tIcle:
Many Of our readers are doubtless, &C.
quainted with that interesting botanical ex
pertinent Of growing an acorn In water,
which hss been christened THE acorn tree
IN county places these delicate little sprout-
ing oaks are very favorite paFlor ornaments,
but we rarely catch . glimpse of them in
town apartments, where their presence would
b particularly desirable. An acorn tree
can be grown IN common wide.mouthed
phial, but more conveniently in q white by.
aclnih glass which may oe procured frnm .
horisl IN order % form one of these trees,
take ripe acorn, and, having removed its
cup. steep It for day or two in rain water
or let il lie among some damp moss. Then
lie thread round Il and suspend Il in the
hyacinih glass from piece of cork Orrcard.
board, which must be made to &c the mouth
Of the glass 20 tightly as to exclude the air.
The &C IN should hang about . quarter Of
en- inch above the sufiace Of the ran water,
with which ihe alpss L % Be half filed, In
lsE week. the acofn viii begin % spfodt,
and The whole process Of is germination
may Be observed through the transparent
sides Of the glass vessels. As soon as the
leaves reach The cork, another arrangement
must b adopted. Tie hole through which
he thread passes must be widened, in order
that The leaves may he pushed through Il.
1hs young plant must then be raised and re.
suspended, 90 that is rooilets Just touch the
water. The lEee viii c0utinuf % grow and
viii flourish for three years, II proper care
Be taken to cleanse is roots from fungi, and
% chau9o The water Vhenevef II becoloes
alimy or tnFbid. A horsechestnut may be
grown IN . similar manner