146 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



strong shoots so as to dwarf them. If practicable when potting them to take 

 in the house, do it when the plants are comparatively dry — before a rain rather 

 than succeeding wet weather. If to be placed in an ordinary window put up a 

 couple of brackets with a shelf. If to be placed in a bay window, turn the 

 carpet back for the winter and place zinc or oil cloth upon the floor in such a 

 manner as to allow the frequent showering of the plants. If you can accom- 

 plish this in no other way, take the plants out in the kitchen every few days 

 for a bath. As to the plants that succeed best, the begonias, geraniums, and 

 yuccas are all good ; and I would suggest as a plant to get the most good out 

 of, the Chinese primrose. 



The temperature of the room is of a good deal of moment. You all know 

 that the upper stratum of air is very much warmer than the lower in a room. 

 This should be remembered in arranging your plants. Plants need constant 

 attention which can only be given them satisfactorily by hands that love to do 

 the work. Gas is not good for plants. Watering is an important matter. Too 

 many give a little water on the surface every day, regardless of requirements, 

 while beneath, perhaps, there is a ball of perfectly hard, dry earth ; and then 

 wonder why the plants do so poorly. My rule is to water thoroughly, and only 

 when needed. Turn your plants out of the pots occasionally and note the con- 

 dition of the roots. Stove plants can be grown in the house by careful atten- 

 tion, but rarely are the best results obtained Avithout a conservatory. Plants 

 repay all they cost and are a valuable accompaniment to any home. 



By request the following essay from the pen of Granville Cowing of Muncie, 

 Indiana, had been sent up to be read at this session : 



A HOME FLOWER GARDEN 



Should be composed of a rich, well-drained loam, and, if possible, should 

 slope slightly to the south or east. To secure the best results with the least 

 labor, the walks should be in straight lines and intersect each other at right 

 angles. An annual top-dressing of unleached wood ashes will be found stimu- 

 lating and beneficial. Of bedding plants annually produced from seed, none in 

 duration of bloom, variety, or beauty of colors, can equal verbenas, Drummond's 

 phlox, petunias, portulaca, and Japanese coxcomb. The:r flowering season is only 

 terminated by frost, and may be much lengthened by sowing seed in a hot-bed 

 and transplanting early. Verbenas and petunias should be planted 18 inches 

 apart ; phlox, portulaca, and coxcomb in rows one foot apart, with plants six 

 inches from each other in the row. The earth in all cases should be firmly 

 pressed against the roots when planting. Loose planting annually entails the 

 loss of an immense number of healthy plants of all kinds — useful as well as 

 ornamental. If crowded in the row, Drummond's phlox often mildews in wet 

 seasons. If fairly treated it is of easy management and a most persistent 

 bloomer. Dwarf rocket larkspur, and candytuft are also very desirable, the 

 latter especially, for bouquets, but they should be sown where they are to grow, 

 and do best if planted in autumn or very early in spring. Of course no flower 

 garden would be complete without mignonette, with its inconspicuous but 

 fragrant flower. Should bouquets be desired a bed of Ageratum Mexicanum 

 would be indispensable. It blooms from June until frost. Seedling verbenas 

 are more free from disease and stronger growers than named sorts from cut- 

 tings, and white, scarlet and striped varieties can now be produced with cer- 

 tainty from seed. Of Drummond's phlox, grandiflora is the most beautiful 



