374 AGRICULTURAL RErORT. 



condition. But there has been generally a prejudice against and a want of 

 attention to the culture of succulent plants. Thi.s is unwise, for many of them 

 are exceedingly beautiful, highly fragrant, and better adapted to house culture 

 than any others. They are singularly curious and varied in their structure, 

 and, generally speaking, require less light, air, and moisture than other plants. 

 Next to them, in point of eligibility for the home garden, may be reckoned 

 such as have coriaceous leaves — that is, their leaves firm, and with a smooth 

 and compact epidermis — such as oranges, pittosporums, myrtles, and others of 

 similar texture. These are found to have organs much better adapted to con- 

 fined air than plants with small leaves of delicate texture. The heaths, and, 

 in fact, the whole race of pinnate-leaved and papilionaceous-flowered plants, 

 arc unfit for house culture. 



TREATMENT OF HOUSE PLANTS. 



Water, heat, air, and light are the four essentials : water, heat, and air to 

 promote growth, and light to render that growth perfect. Three of these 

 requisites man can command at his pleasure by artificial means, but over 

 light there is less control. To be beneficial to plants light must come directly 

 from the sun ; therefore it should fall upon them with as little as possible of 

 that refraction and decomposition which it suffers when passing obliquely 

 through glass or any other medium except the air. Plants grown in the open 

 air, and with such free exposure to light as their luxbits require, develop all 

 their parts in proper form and color. A geranium placed in a dark room be- 

 comes fii'st pale, then spotted, and ultimately white. Hence plants in rooms 

 should be placed near a window, Avhich should, if possible, have a southern 

 exposure, and never be shaded Avith blinds or curtains. If placed at a distance 

 from the window, the position of the plants should be frequently changed. 



Air is as necessary as light, but can find its way where light cannot; there- 

 fore requires less care from the cultivator. The heat of ordinary dwelling- 

 houses is quite enough for such species as we should recommend for general 

 culture, except in very cold weather, when remove the pots from the window. 

 Spring and autumn are the seasons when most attention is required. More 

 plants are killed by the rapidity of transition from moderate warmth to cold 

 than by the frost itself. When, as will often happen, plants are slightly in- 

 jured by frost, cold water should be sprinkled on them before the sun shines 

 on them. Continue the application as long as any appearance of frost remains 

 on the foliage. 



Water is as essential to the whole plant as it is to the roots. The stems 

 and leaves are liable to collect dust, and thereby be injured. Leaves are the 

 breathing organs of plants as lungs are of animals, and cleanliness is very 

 essential to their health ; they should therefore be frequently syringed. The 

 pores are generally large in proportion to the size of the leaves, which is one 

 reason why delicate leaved shrubs are not so well adapted for the house as 

 those of larger and firmer texture. 



Carnations are exquisite flowers for those who have sufficient accomodations 

 for the finer sorts. They should always be potted to protect them from heavy 

 rains. Refresh the tops of the pots with new earth in June, and keep the 

 plants free from decayed leaves. Gently stir the soil around each plant occa- 

 sionally, and as flowers in pots require more water than if placed in the ground, 

 let the carnation be gently moistened about every other day during dry 

 weather. Water them in the morning. No flower will endure drenching 

 during the heat of a summer day. Carnations love salt and sand in equal pro- 

 portions. Do not allow two buds to grow side by side upon the same stem, 

 for one will weaken the other ; pinch off the smallest. They love warinth, 

 therefore give them a sunny as^pect, and water them once a weok with lime 

 water if they appear drooping ; for this is caused by a worm at the root. 



