180 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



night. She may, instead, place a pretty screen in front of the phmt 

 stand, if the foliage is not dense enough to effectually shut out the 

 gaze of passers-b}^ when the lamps are lighted. 



Of all insects, the red spider seems to thrive and multiply most 

 magicically in the congenial atmosphere of a furnace- heated con- 

 servatory. Were our grandmothers plagued by these little pests? 

 If so, they made no record of it. 



Ah! How their roses and rose geraniums sweetened the air 

 around the narrow-paned windows. How their chrysanthemums 

 glorified the whole room; how their abutilons, and callas, and ole- 

 anders throve and blossomed between the sunshine and the glow of 

 the blazing logs in the fireplace; how laboriously their half-dozen 

 pots were removed each cold night to a table in the centre of the 

 room, and, with newspapers, shielded as securely as might l)e from 

 the icy draughts. Surely, the tiny spider liked not the stir and fresh- 

 ness of the air, as it found its way from the window cracks to the 

 mouth of the great chimney. 



The tenderest exotics rarely found a place among those old 

 ladies' Avindow plants, because of the difficulty of keeping the tem- 

 perature constantly at the high point necessary for their existence. 

 But such treasures as they had were easily kept in a healthy con- 

 dition, and they dreaded nothing but frost. 



Some way must be provided to furnish moist and pure air for 

 our plants as Avell as the warmth so easily secured. A jar of Avater 

 standing continually on the register helps toward that end. An 

 open fire burning on the opposite side of the room assists to change 

 the air, and buckets of boiling water, brought as often as one has 

 time and patience, placed where the steam will rise among the leafy 

 branches, are almost as beneficial as frequent sprinkling. It is 

 also less trouble, provided there is a hot-water reservoir in the kitchen. 

 If frost and insects trouble us not, still what shall be done when, 

 with an imperfectly constructed heater in the cellar we find the 

 dust, gas and smoke ruining the greenery which so gladdened 

 our hearts at the beginning of winter? Again, the best remedies 

 are moisture and cleanliness, provided, of coarse, a better one cannot 

 be found by curing the faulty fire monster of its bad breath, or re- 

 placing it by something more perfect. It is to be hoped that all hot- 

 air furnaces are not abominations. 



Do you love 3^our plants? Then once a Aveek place them one 

 by one on a Ioav table, draAv up a comfortable chair, and patiently 

 sponge off each individual leaf Avith Avarm Avater. This is not a very 

 formidable undertaking, so far as the smooth-leaved bushes are con- 

 cerned: the orange tree, the Jwi/a earnosa sfephanotis and calla are 

 easily managed, so also the smooth-leaved begonias, ivies and man}'' 

 others. Such as cannot be sponged will, perhaps, bear having their 

 brandies gently shaken in a tub of Avarm water; or if too brittle to 

 endure this treatment, then they must be sprinkled or syringed. 



