WINTER MEETING, 1877. 51 



upon them. Administer tepid water copiously. Tnrn out all water which has 

 soaked through and acemnulatcd. Most plants are injured hy standing in 

 water. Hydrangeas, calla lilies, and lohelias arc excci)tions to this rule. 

 Plants which are blossoming vigorously require more water than those that are 

 not so healtliy. One thing must be borne in mind primarily: never pour cold 

 ■water on roots or leaves of })lants, Let it be warm enouglr to admit tlie liand, 

 but never hot. Cold tea benclits plants if not used too frequently and cold. 



I think the most important point in plant growing is the watering. Some 

 .say never water a plant unless dry. This is shown by tapping the pot, — if dry 

 it Avill sound hollow, then water thoroughly, a soaking or none at all. A copious 

 supplv of water, frequent syringing of the foliage, and a judicious airing will 

 result in success. All plants kept in a room should be washed twice a moiith, 

 and sometimes oftener, to insure a more healthy growth. Ivies are benefited by 

 washing them, when the leaves got dusty, with a soft sponge. Another injury 

 to plants is to leave on all dead or decayed leaves and blossoms. This should 

 not be permitted, they should be removed as soon as they show symptoms of 

 decay. It is commonly thought that coal gas injures plants; possibly there 

 may be some truth in the supposition, but I understand that it is used much in 

 England where they have such marvels in indoor gardening. I think it is 

 evidently a fact that it is not the gas alone, but the effect of the gas combined 

 with the closeness of the room and the heat and unhealthy condition of the in- 

 door atmosphere. Some of our bulbs, hyacinths for instance, grow under the 

 snow and flower in early spring before the warm days of summer. 



To expect them to thrive in a temperature as dry and almost as hot as Sahara, 

 and very much closer, is obviously unreasonable, aside from the gas question. 

 The hyacinth and crocus, and most other bulbous roots, should be grown in rooms 

 that are usually kept cool, but some other plants will stand more heat. Heat, 

 light and ventilation are required for thrift. Bulbs planted in plates filled with 

 sand and covered with raoss, or planted in pots nearly filled with earth, do not 

 require to be kept in the dark at first, though it will do them no harm. The 

 bulbs being covered with the earth and moss are dark enough, and are in a natural 

 condition for growing. The one essential of window gardening is sunlight. 

 That secured, the rest is easy. A south window with a shade that can be raised 

 or lowered at pleasure is best. Hardy bloomers sucli as fuchsias, tea roses^ gera- 

 niums, etc., do better in the house as a general thing than tropical ferns which 

 are so temptingly beautiful in conservatories and perish so quickly out of them. 

 A few foliage plants, also a coleus or two, — and who would do without the 

 myrtle ? 



It is a common thing to put plants into too large pots. This has a bad 

 effect. To be sure if the soil is good, and not over watered, the plant 

 will grow rapidly, but it will produce leaves instead of flowers, and if it is 

 over-watered the soil around the roots has the same effect as the stagnant water 

 in the saucer. In repotting plants never give too large a shift. Plants should 

 be repotted, when the roots around tlie outside of the mould look white, then 

 the plant should be transferred to a pot one size larger. By persevering in this 

 mode of treatment for some time, and never advancing more than one size at a 

 time, the plant may be grown to a large size, and made to produce an abun- 

 dance of flowers, while by suffering it to remain in a smaller pot, or changing 

 it to a very large one, the stem will become weak and elongated, and the 

 flowers will be few. 



Plants crave the air as much as our human lungs, it is vital to their growth, 



