296 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. 



Umbrella plants require a great deal of water; palms but little, unless in 

 active growth. Both need frequent shower baths to lieep the leaves from 

 turning brown. Washing palms in milky water not only helps to keep 

 the leaves healthy, but improves the appearance as well. Two of the most 

 popular ferns are the asparagus plumosus nanus, or Japanese lace fern, 

 and asparagus sprengerii, or emerald feather fern. The latter makes a 

 nice basket plant. 



For sunny windows, geraniums, started in August, will give a pro- 

 fusion of bloom. Coleus will do well and give color to your collection. 

 Impatiens saltanas, both red and pink will furnish a wealth of bright 

 flowers all winter if given plenty of water and good sunlight. Carna- 

 tions, abutilons and some varieties of double petunias will do nicely in- 

 doors. The secert of success with the geranium and coleus especially 

 lies in not allowing them to become chilled. This will blast the geranium 

 bud and cause the coleus to drop the leaA^es. A calla lily is one of the 

 choice plants for window gardening. A large, thrifty plant is almost 

 as stately as a palm, and when it blooms it is the admiration of every 

 one. Last winter 'twas my good fortune to have five beautiful blooms. 

 Give the plant a rich soil, and during the winter give daily applications 

 of hot water, by setting the pot in the hot water and allowing it to ab- 

 sorb. In summer they must have a period of rest. 



No definite rules can be given in floriculture, because there are va- 

 rieties in tastes, likes and dislikes; hence, success or failure is largely an 

 individual one. Where one succeeds, another fails. If there is no love for 

 plants, don't attempt to grow flowers. As success in farming depends 

 more on the man than the soil he cultivates, so plant growing affoi'ds the 

 greatest satisfaction to those who appreciate them most. 



In this paper only those plants and flowers with which I am familiar 

 have been mentioned. There are doubtless many other varieties equally 

 as satisfactory, and it is to be hoped that by exchange of ideas in this 

 meeting we may be benefited by learning better methods of culture, as 

 well as new varieties to cultivate. 



The Divine Creator has placed the flowers here for us to enjoy and 

 to gi-atify an inherent desire for the aesthetic in nature. We can not be 

 too thankful for the refining and blessed influence they wield in the 

 human heart. 



"God might have made the earth bring forth 

 Enough for great and small. 

 The oak tree and the cedar tree 

 Without a flower at all." 



