THE USE 



leaves, and helps to counteract the weakening 

 influence of a hot, dry air. One should make 

 it a rule to shower her plants at least twice a 

 week. Once a day would be better, for it is 

 impossible to give them too much moisture 

 overhead in the ordinary living-room. Shower- ' 

 ing also helps to keep down insect enemies, but 

 that will be spoken of fully in another chapter. 



Every owner of a collection of house-plants 

 should provide herself with a small, portable 

 spray-pump. With it she can apply water to 

 her plants in the form of a spray as. fine as 

 mists, or she can make a genuine shower of it 

 by a simple turn of the nozzle regulating the 

 size and character of the stream. Such a 

 pump is a necessity to the woman who desires 

 to do good work among her plants. Careful 

 manipulation of it will prevent much moisture 

 from reaching any part of the room except 

 that in which the plants stand. In other 

 words, the water can be applied just where it 

 is needed, and there will be slight danger of 

 doing injury to carpets or walls. Sprinkling 

 with whisk-brooms, or applying water with 

 atomizers, as so frequently advised, is of slight 

 benefit. 



It is a good plan to give your plants a month- 



46 



