248 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



plants jumbled together without system or method. For small gardens, beds 

 cut in the green turf are more satisfactory than the old plan of bordering and 

 encircling with gravel walks, and can be more easily kept in order. Ribbon 

 beds or carpet beds tastily^^arranged are very ornamental. 



CULTIVATION. 



Stir the ground frequently and more deeply as the season advances. Cultiva- 

 tion is moisture. You will not be troubled so much with weeds, and by keep- 

 ing tlie ground mellow your plants will make a strong, vigorous growth. 



Liquid manure or soaj) suds applied once or twice a week is very invigorat- 

 ing, and will increase the number and sizo of the flowers. Cut the flowers free- 

 ly, even if you can make no use of them, for the more you cut them the more 

 they will bloom. If allowed to go to seed the strength of the plant will be ex- 

 hausted in dtrveloping seeds, and the number and size of the flowers will be di- 

 minished. A \\^w loose flowers tastily arranged have a charming effect upon the 

 breakfast table, and if given to a sick friend how much joy they might bring. 



CARE OF HOUSE PLANTS. 

 BY ALICE R. OARFIELD. 



Thrifty, well grown plants in the house are a great help in beautifying and 

 making a pleasant and cheerful place in which to live, especially during the 

 dreary months of the year when out of doors nature's face is looking sad and 

 forlorn. I say thrifty plants for I am not so sure of having the readers of this 

 article agree with me if I were to say simply house plants, for I have seen 

 those, among my own plants, too, that were an eye-sore to everyone looking at 

 them ; such as I have in mind are mere skeletons with a few leaves at the 

 ends of the branches; one sees them oltcner in geraniums than any other 

 plants. Why they arc kept is a mystery, except it may be the owner is fondly 

 hoping that they may possibly *' turn new leaves" and cover the bare branches, 

 for "while there is life tliere is hope." 



It seems more natural for some people to have nice plants than others, and 

 the question arises in the minds of many, why is it that my plants do not 

 grow as thriftily as those of my friend? The answer to the question is that 

 your friend understands the needs and requirements of her plants better than 

 you do. One good rule which will apply to plants in general is to treat them 

 as nearly in accordance with nature's methods as possible. 



Of course, in caring for plants in the house there are a good many things to 

 contend with. They need plenty of light, a moist atmosphere, fresh air, and 

 plenty of witer. Now, how are we to furnish these requisites to healthy plant 

 growth. First, about light; and I will give you the plan of my window gar- 

 den, and most of my experience. Almost anyone can have as good a place for 

 plants as I have lor mine, for they are in an east window, and the window is 

 under a porch, consequently the jilants have to be contented with the bit of 

 morning sun that can peep under the verandah, but they are thankful for that, 

 and seem to exhibit their thankfulness in their very appearance. I had some 

 shelves made of pme with a moulding around the edge projecting an inch or 

 more ai>ove the bottom, and stained the moulding to represent walnut. The 

 object of having the moulding project above the shelf is to allow for the filling 



