THE FARM AND GARDEN, 



Plants fok Living Kooms. 

 Many people, both in city and country, keep 

 plants in tlietr rooms, and not a few grow them 

 there from one years end to the other. Of course, 

 plants do not thrive as well in dwelling-rooms as 

 in green-houses, and a common impression ex- 

 ists that gas Is particularly obnoxious to them— 

 that is— gas light. The heat-drying effect of the 

 gas flame no douol affects plants, hut not lo the 

 extent that it is supposed to; anyhow not much 

 more than a lamp or stove would. This evil ef- 

 fect may be remedied, to a very great extent, by 

 Betting the plants on saucers inverted intootherB 

 of larger size, and beeping these large saucers 

 constantly tull of water. Th;s will gradually 

 evaporate and keep the air around the plants 

 in a moist condition, suUi.rient to counteract the 

 evil effects of gas or stove heat. The inverted 

 saucers should be large enough so that the base 

 of the pot in which me plants are srowinor, does 

 not actually ^tand in tlie water, although 

 occasionally this is beneficial to the plant, 

 especially when much drainage has been 

 used. Maiden Hair Ferns, Acacias, and 

 Primulas do first rate under these circum- 

 stances. Also the beautiful-leaved Maran- 

 tas, if kept warm enough during nvinter. 

 What really destroys room-plants is mis- 

 management and want of light and air. 

 Few plants will thrive long unless they 

 have both. But where there is plenty of 

 both, almost anything may be made to 

 grow and blossom beautifully. Geraniums, 

 Fuchsias, Begonias, Gloxinias, and Abuti- 

 lons will all give an abundance of flowers, 

 and what is more, these will not be infested 

 by insects, as Hoses and Chrysantlieniiims 

 would be. If flowers are not an object, we 

 would suggest Aspidistra L u r i d a Varie- 

 gata, Marantas, Ferns, the beautiful Sanse- 

 veria Metallica, Ficus Elastica, Areca I^u- 

 tescens, or almost any palm. Even small 

 Agaves look nice, and if kept In rather 

 small pots, they will not outgrow your win- 

 dow sill very soon. "Mentioning Agaves 

 reminds us of Cacti. These are the plants 

 just suitable for room-culture; neither gas 

 light nor rtre heat will hurt them. In fact, 

 they will not require any heat at all during 

 win ter, providing frost is excluded. If 

 flowers are expected from them in spring, 

 they should have plenty of sun during 

 winter, but tlie.v will not want any water 

 except once in two weeks. Of course, \ou 

 do not expect these lo grow during winter, 

 as this is their season of rest; excepting, 

 however, the Crab Caclus or Epiphyllums, 

 which, with good management, may be had 

 In bloom from October lo March. Many 

 persons try to grow Crotons, Azaleas, and 

 Camellias in rooms, but as a general thing the 

 result is failure and destruction of the plants, as 

 these require an abundance of syringing and 

 moisture. Climbers and Vines 

 Of all sorts are now making strong growth. In 

 order to make them grow just where they are 

 wanted, a little attention should be paid to these 

 as well. If the runners are growing too strong, 

 they should be kept in check. Vacant places on 

 wall or trellis must be filled up. Do not tie them 

 to a big nail, with a piece of leather or a strip of 

 tin ; but drive a few large-headed nails here and 

 there, to which the branches can be fastened with 

 small pieces of brass wire. This will last forever, 

 and is very inexpensive. 



Plants That are in Bud 

 Will be helped along considerably Just now with 

 atop-dressing of some well-decomposed manure 

 or, if this is not handy, an occasional dose of 

 guano water will answer as well. Twice a week 

 will be sufllcieat. 



INCREASINQ YOUR STOCK OF ROSES. 



Koses may be propagated in several ways, 

 viz. :— By budding, cutting or layering. 



B'or layering, the strong new growth may be 

 used as soon as it gets a little hard. Make a slil 

 in the upper side of the shoot with a sharp knife, 

 and bend it down into the soil; a strong wire 

 bent at one end and pressed into the ground, will 

 keep it in place. Budding is done by taking out 

 a piece of bark with an eye, and inserting it 

 under the bark of another kind, and then tyin^ 

 it in. In case the stock on which tlie budding is 

 done throws out suckers, they should be removed 



by them when the colors of flowers and foliage 

 at e chosen to good advantage. Look at our bunco 

 of Geraniums. Is it not pretty? 



Propagating Geraniums. 

 This is a good time to propagate gerauAoms for 

 wititer-blooming. For a small numijer of plants, 

 the best and quickest way is to root them in 

 tumblers of water. Place these in the sun, and 

 renew the water, should it become offensive. 



AMERICAN EXHIBITION, LONDON, 1886. 



GEKA.\IU.\r. 



at once. Ever.v one knows how to propagate by 

 cuttings. A clean, shallow box may be filled 

 with sand, or If not many cuttings are to be 

 rooted, a flower pot will do as well, providing 

 care is taken of the drainage. Fill your box or 

 flower-pot with cuttings of half-ripe wood, then 

 give it a good soakingof water, to make the sand 

 firm, and place them in a shady spot where water 

 must be given when required. When well rooted, 

 take the cuttings up and plant them in sandy 

 soil, using two or three-inch pots. 

 Geraniums. 

 For cut-flower bouquets. Geraniums are seldom 

 used, and yet a graceful effect may be produced 



TBotanical Department).— .\mong the attractions 

 of the American exhibition to be held in London 

 next year will be a garden comprised solely of 

 .\merican trees, shrubs, and hardy plants; in 

 fact, it is intended that the whole of the exhibi- 

 tion grounds shall contain no plants except those 

 of North America. The intention is to nial^e a 

 representative gathering of the United States 

 flora taken in latitudinal and longitudinal direc- 

 tions. The former will represent the charicteristic 

 vegetation of each State taken seriatem from New 

 York to California, the latter from the Canadian 

 frontier to Te.xas and Florida. The Orange and 

 Citron groves of Florida and other Southern 

 States together with representations of their 

 Cotton, Maize, and Tobacco fields, will be made. 

 As the North American flora is of peculiar rich- 

 ness, such an exhibition will not only be novel, 

 but attractive, for no country is so rich in beautiful 

 hard^' trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, and 

 an idea of the resources of the North American 

 flora will thus he presented to the visitor at a 

 glance. From the opening day in May until the 

 close of the e-\liil,ition in October it is hoped 

 that the grounds will not only prove interesting 

 and instructive to the visitors, but attractive 

 also on account of the peculiar nature of Ameri- 

 can plants to flower in continuous succession. 

 With the ordinary American flowering shrubs, 

 such as Khododendrons, Azaleas, Kalmias, Eng- 

 lish people are welt acquainted, but it is iioped 

 that this exhibition will comprise large numbers 

 of trees, shrubs, and plants which are compara- 

 tively little known in this countr.v. The wealth 

 of the herbaceous plant flora of the States will 

 be a special feature, and it is intended to import 

 direct from the States representative collec- 

 tions of wild trees and plants, particularly 

 of the most attractive kinds. 



We copy the above trom the London Garden, In 

 order tliat our subscribers may prepare them- 

 selves for this great event^"There is a tide In 

 the event of man, wiiich, if taken as a flood, 

 leads on to fortune." 



The Society of American Florists will have Its 

 first general meeting in Cincinnati, on August 

 12th, 13th, and 14th. It wilt be a most important 

 meeting; one that will benefit everyone in the 

 rade. There will be a list of very excellent 

 ■lapers to be read and discussed, which will form 

 in important feature. The exhibition of plants 

 md flowers will be entirely unique in character, 

 liffering materiall.v from any exhibition pre- 

 viously made in this country. It is earnestly 

 fesired that all members having seedlings, 

 novelties, or plants of merit, will not hesitate to 

 exhibit them. No plant or flower of merit will 

 i>e unrewarded. There will be very many imple- 

 meiits and appliances belonging to floriculture. 

 The progress made in the construction of green- 

 houses for all purposes during tlie past ten years, 

 is of great value to the trade, and the latest and 

 most improved models and plans will beexh'bit- 

 ed, showing ventilation, arrangements of tables, 

 ?ost, etc. In fact, everything of interest to the 

 trade will be represented. Florists and those 

 interested, who have not already received a 

 prospectus, should apply for one from the pub- 

 lishers of this paper. The president of the society 

 is Mr. John Thorpe, Queens, N. Y. First vice- 

 president, J. M. Jordan, St. Louis, Mo. Treasurer, 

 M. A. Hunt, Wrigh • ^ Grove, Chicago. Secretary, 

 K. G. Hill, Richmond. Indiana. 



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