20 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



by placing a light cloth over the collection during the process of sleeping and 

 dusting the room. If plants are kept in a bay window, drapery can be taste- 

 fully arranged so as to protect them at such a time. If dust collects on the 

 begonia it should be wiped off with a dry sponge. I have brightened up ge- 

 raniums by submerging the tops in tepid water. 



I have never been troubled very much with insects, excepting a small para- 

 site, which adheres very closely to the under side of the leaf of the oleander. 

 They killed the first one I tried to grow. I do not know the name of this little 

 pest, but it looks quite formidable under the lens of the magnifying glass. I 

 have succeeded in preventing them from harming my present oleander by 

 wiping the leaf with a soft wet cloth. 



The earth worm can be easily managed by carefully examining the earth 

 before repotting the plants. I have never seen house plants out of place when 

 they did not take the care that should be given to more essential home com- 

 forts, and little children were not neglected thereby, and there was not more 

 of the blessed soil on the floor than there was around the plants ; but even 

 then, while we admired the plants, we should feel like saying with Burns, " To 

 spare thee now is past my pow'r, thou bonnie gem," and they would all find a 

 place out of doors, no matter where the mercury stood. 



A writer has said that where he finds house plants in the home he is sure of 

 a kindly welcome. Be that as it may, we always feel a deeper interest in those 

 who speak admiringly and approvingly of our plants. The love of approba- 

 tion is another of the strong motives that influence mankind. The Greeks 

 recognized this in giving as their highest award for military achievements, for 

 literary merit, for civic renown, a laurel wreath. For this, Demosthenes 

 wrought in his immortal oration, For the Crown : "The laurel faded, but the 

 honor was imperishable ; " and although we may have no laurel wreaths or am- 

 aranthine flowers among our house plants, yet there is a broadening and refin- 

 ing influence connected with them that will lead the thoughts through these 

 green pets of nature up to nature's God. 



A lady in the audience suid: I have a calla fourteen years old which blos- 

 somed regularly for seven or eight years, since which it has not blossomed, 

 though repotted every year. What can I do for it? Also can callas be grown 

 successfully in a north window? 



Mrs. : My best success has been in tin, though I do not get many 



blossoms. They are a pale green in color. They are in a north window; 

 perhaps they need the sun. 



Mrs. Hough: It does no harm to let them multiply in the pot. We have 

 no difficulty in getting them to bloom. We turn them down under a tree after 

 blooming, and repot the next winter, and water with very warm water. 



C. W. Garfield spoke of the maiden hair fern as a house plant. It is not sen- 

 sitive to a change of air, and is one of the most handsome for the decoration 

 of rooms. It needs but a short period of rest, being beautiful nearly the 

 whole year. 



L. D. Watkins: It can be obtained from the woods in winter, at any time 

 when the ground is bare, and will start into growth in a few days. It will do 

 well where there is but little light. 



B. W. Steere recommended lily of the valley and dicentra spectabilis as. 

 house plauts. 



C. W. Garfield spoke of the value of Impatieus sultana as a house plant. 

 E. W. A His opened a short discussion on the next topic, 



