THE GENERAL CARE 



from sweeping will settle on them, and frequent 

 washings will be necessary to remove it. It is 

 a good plan to throw a sheet of cheese-cloth or 

 some other light, thin material over them 

 when sweeping and dusting. Also to postpone 

 showering until after the dust has had a chance 

 to settle. If it is not possible to keep them 

 quite clean by these little attentions, they 

 should be removed to kitchen or bathroom 

 once a week, turned down on their sides, and 

 given a thorough washing. Drench them. 

 Allow them to remain wet for a time, and then 

 turn on the hose again, with considerable force, 

 to remove the dust which has been rendered 

 tractable by soaking. The cleaner you keep 

 your plants the healthier they will be. I have 

 urged cleanliness, so far, wholly on the score 

 of health. It scarcely seems necessary to say 

 anything about dirty plants to the woman of 

 average neatness, for if she believes that clean- 

 liness is next to godliness and practices what 

 she believes, she will never allow her plants to 

 get into a condition that is offensive to the 

 eye. If she takes no pride in keeping them 

 clean, she doesn't care enough for them to 

 make it worth while to give her any advice on 

 the subject. 



108 



