House Plants. 2:29 



and then wait until the soil is again dry before giving 

 another supply. It is, however, unnecessary to say that the 

 plants should not be allowed to wilt. A very good way to 

 determine whether a plant needs water or not, provided it 

 is potted firmly as it should be, is to strike the side of the 

 pot sharply with the knuckles; if it emits a ringing sound, 

 the soil is dry and should be watered, but if the sound is 

 without ring, no water is required. I wish to take this op- 

 portunity of protesting against a too common practice of 

 keeping plants standing in saucers constantly full of water. 

 Except in the case of aquatics, and a few plants seldom cul- 

 tivated, the system is productive of very unsatisfactory 

 results. 



The judicious use of liquid fertilizers is attended with 

 great benefit to many plants. Geraniums, fuchsias, chry- 

 sauthemuces and even ferns and many others when 

 growing vigorously, and in need of much nourishment, of 

 which they have already exhausted the soil, are very grate- 

 ful for an occasional watering of guano or ammonia. Both 

 are excellent, although guano is generally preferred. It 

 should never be applied to a plant when the soil is very 

 dry, as there is then danger of its loosening the roots. It is 

 always advisable to use a weak solution of it ; one pound 

 to twenty gallons of water is generally recommended, 

 although some cultivators use it at the rate of two ounces 

 tD the gallon, and even stronger. A weekly application is 

 usually sufficient, unless the plant shows signs of great ex- 

 haustion, when it may be applied twice each week. Its 

 effects are greatly increased vigor of growth, depth of 

 color and richness in leaves and blossom, the latter being 

 generally greatly increased in numbers and size. Ammonia 

 is also highly reccmmended by many experienced plant 

 growers, both for watering and syringing. It is usually 

 used in strength int he proportion of one tablespoonful of 

 the liquid to one gallon of water, and applied to the roots 

 once or twice each week, orlightly syrmged on the foilage 

 three or four times during the week. For the latter purpose 

 I believe it is very beneficial to house plants. 



The diseases which plants are heir to, and the numerous 



