HOUSE PLANTS. 495 



HOUSE PLANTS. 



AUG. S. SWAXSON, ST. PAUL. 



What I can add to the general knowledge of house plants, I do not 

 know; the subject is too comprehensive to allow me to go into a 

 general discussion of it, neither have I anything new to add in the 

 way of new plants; I know of none. But there are some old favorites 

 which seem to have dropped almost out of sight lately —at least it is 

 seldom we meet them in anj' collection of house plants. I refer to 

 our grandmother's favorites, the Camelia Japonica and Azalea 

 Indica. Here are two of the most useful and satisfactory plants for 

 a living room; they last forever, I might say; at least, they maj' both 

 be grown in pots for many years much the same as the common 

 Oleander and with very nearly the same treatment, except not to set 

 them in the hottest sun in the summer time; rather select a cool, 

 moist and shady spot and plunge the pot to the top in the ground, 

 where, if soaked often with water, they should thrive till fall, remov- 

 ing them then to the house ahead of the time hard frosts are ex- 

 pected. Still, I would not move them in too early; better if they 

 can be covered or in some manner be protected from the frost dur- 

 ing cold weather. They will be much better for being left out as 

 long as possible in the fall, as they enjoy cool, damp weather. 

 When taking them into the house, give as light and cool a place as 

 you can to start with; they really ought not to be taken into the liv- 

 ing room until about Christmas. From that time forward a little 

 warmth will do no harm, and if kept light they will soon commence 

 to unfold their gorgeous flowers, which will remain in a perfect 

 state for a very long time. But remember to always keep them 

 rather moist, not, however, soggy or sour, as the)- are very particu- 

 lar about that, but they must not stand dry for any great length of 

 time. If ever they should hqppen to get real dry any time, do not 

 try to water them by pouring water on top of the soil, but plunge 

 them in a tub of water and let them remain for some hours until 

 they are thoroughly soaked. In re-potting always keep them in 

 rather small pots, well drained, and use peat soil with some sand 

 added. If no such soil is at hand, use some old leaf-mould; that is, 

 the soil from the surface in the woods or from under old trees, soft 

 wooded trees being the best. Never use any kind of manure, except 

 very old, decomposed cow droppings. The time for re-potting is the 

 early spring, when they have finished blooming; at the same time 

 the knife may be used to some extent in pruning so as to keep them 

 in good form. 



Another old plant which is very rare is Antharium Scherzer- 

 ianum. This is a beautiful evergreen plant with twelve to eighteen 

 inches long dark green leaves which last for years. The flower to 

 some extent resembles the well known Calla lily on a smaller scale, 

 the flower being three to four inches long, brightest scarlet red 

 and lasts in good condition for months. The plants bloom 

 naturally in winter, and I know of none more satisfactory for 

 house culture, provided it is given moisture enough, protected from 

 sudden changes in temperature and kept rather .nhadj-. 



