Window Gardening. 551 



house culture, and some of them just as good for bedding 

 out. 



I have found a black, sandy peat the best soil I have 

 ever tried for these, one that, by the help of the farmer's 

 fertilizer, will bring out plenty of good sized flowers, that 

 is, if they can have a few hours of sunshine a day and a 

 plenty of f resli air. As these are not troubled with insects, 

 with the exception of the white mite, in the earth, the daily 

 watering with an occasional showering of the foliage is all 

 that is required. 



For the mite, I find the ashes from tobacco an effectual 

 remedy, and as pater-familias at our house indulges in a 

 cigar now and then, it is very easy to look up the plants 

 that need and set in his reach — they then become useful to 

 each other. 



This white mite is made by a small brown fly, and 

 to destroy this one must fumigate with tobacco. 



Those of the geraniums we keep for the beauty of the 

 foliage, and the ivy leaved, need to be kept quite near the 

 glass to bring out the rich coloring, and you must nip every 

 bud unless you wish to lose leaves. The only chance of a 

 failure to get a fair amount of blossoms with these or almost 

 all varieties of blooming plants, in winter, is in not getting 

 your cuttings started early enough to have them get strong, 

 healthy roots, and plenty of them, before they are confined 

 entirely to the house. No one need expect a plant to 

 bloom well that is not well started by the middle of June. 



Now a word in regard to starting cuttings may not be 

 out of place. I have the best success in putting them by 

 the edge of a porous pot, one that is white and unglazed 



