No. 7. DEPARTIMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 623 



were than the common palms. During the winter-time anyone 

 having any liking at all for plants can spend hours in a house of well- 

 grown foliage plants. 



The cultivation of this class of plants is very eas}', providing one 

 has a good house to grow them in. We have found that a good 

 rest, say from about the middle of December to the middle of Feb- 

 ruary, is very beneficial. During those two months we rarely have 

 the temj)erature over 55 degrees during the night, the plants are 

 kept on the dry side, and it is very rarely that they even look worse 

 after their rest. From that time on we advance the temperature a 

 few degrees each week so that by the middle of March we try to not 

 let it fall under 70 degrees. Air should be given during all favor 

 able weather. A small crack each day during the winter will do a 

 great amount of good in sweetening up the atmosphere if only ad 

 mitted for 10 minutes. As the days get warmer more air will have 

 to be given, but always from the top. We never use the side venti- 

 lators as if used they dry up all the moisture. I myself am a great 

 one for getting air on early in the morning and closing up again 

 very early in the afternoon. I will say here that the best plant 

 man I was ever under would have full air on the stove plants by 

 8.30 A. M. during the summer months and would always have it 

 closed up again by 1 P. M. and the syringe going freely, and I can 

 say we were never far from the blue ribbon at the exhibitions on 

 that class of plants. Shading is a very important feature in the 

 welfare of these plants. Some varieties, such as Crotons or Dra- 

 caena's, will be benefited by a good amount of sun, then take the 

 Maranta and Alocasia, if given sun all the color will go. We always 

 try to get all plants that like the most sun on the sunniest side of 

 the house, and all that do not like much sun on in the shadiest spot. 

 For shading we use white lead and coal oil and we only have to put 

 it on once during the season. But the ideal shading is some kind of 

 canvas on rollers that can be pulled up and down with ropes and 

 then it will only have to be used on sunny days. We commence shad 

 ing about the 1st of March. 



About the 1st of March is also a good time to commence potting. 

 All plants should be examined. Some will not require repotting. 

 But I have found it a good plan to look to the drainage, as imper- 

 fect drainage is one of the most serious things in the cultivation. 

 Those that do not require repotting should have some of the old 

 soil taken off the top and a good top dressing given with good rich 

 soil. Others perhaps will want most of the old soil shaken off 

 and then putting back in the same pots, which should be quite clean 

 and well drained. Propagating is much the same as for all other 

 plants, but to secure good plants of some varieties they should bo 

 mo.ssed and after well rooted, taken off the old plant, but they will 

 then want to be kept very close for a few weeks. Other varieties 

 with creeping rhisomes, such as Maranta's, will have to be divided 

 to increase their numbers. 



Soil. — I must say that many are not quite as particular as they 

 should be. We use the old rotten sod, leaf mold, rotten rock sand, 

 good dry cow manure and a small quantity of charcoal. For nearly 

 all varieties, except for Maranta's, we add quite a portion of sphag- 

 num moss. Peat we use very little of as I consider good leaf mold far 



