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THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, 189^ 



size of a pea, to every gallon, on that 

 pour about a pint of boiling water, and 

 then fill it up with cold water. It will 

 be quite warm, and a thorough drench- 

 ing overhead and in the pots will vastly 

 improve their color and health. A drop 

 or two of hartshorn will also correct 

 hard water somewhat. In watering, 

 never wet merely the surface, but 

 moisten the whole ball of earth in the 

 pot. If the ball should yet be very dry, 

 set the whole pot in a pail of warm 

 water till it is soaked through. The 

 morning is the best time of the day for 

 watering during the cold season, while 

 the evening is best in summer. A 

 •common hand-brush, made of broom- 

 corn, dipped into Avarm water and 

 shaken over the plants will imitate a 

 summer shower. Care should be taken 

 that the pots have good drainage, for 

 then all surplus water will run into the 

 saucer, which may be emptied as fast as 

 filled. In warm, mild weather, when 

 plants absorb a great deal of moisture, 

 it will do no harm to leave a little in 

 the saucer. Among other details 



in watering, the following items 

 of caution are to be observed : 

 Some plants should never be wetted on 

 the leaves. 'J'ake the Begonia Rex, 

 whose foliage, so large and grand, has 

 a,n exquisite coloring ; if its leaves were 

 to be sponged with cold water, and the 

 plant left out on the balcony or in open 

 iiiv, it would probably die very soon, 

 but a Camelia can be treated in the 

 same way and not be injured in the 

 slightest. The reasons for it are good. 

 The last plant has a hard, shiny leaf, 

 which can resist rough treatment ; but 

 the other has a succulent, tender leaf, 

 easily affected. The novice, then, may 

 generally find it true that the plants 

 with soft, porous and hairy leaves 

 should be very cautiously Avetted over- 



head, but plants with hard, varnished 

 leaves may be Avatered frequently. 

 Tepid Avater should be invariably used, 

 even doAvn to the height of summer. 

 If jilants get infested with vermin, a 

 sponging with soap, as sold by the 

 florists, and Avater made into a lather, 

 Avill clear them. Then folloAV Avith clear 

 Avater to remove the soap. It is also a 

 good rule to observe that the colder the 

 weather the less Avater must be given ; 

 and Avhen plants are at rest, done groAV- 

 ing, they need very little indeed. 



Plants in cases may be Avatered once 

 a Aveek for there evaporation is con- 

 fined, but in open rooms once a day is 

 sufficient. Some plants, Avliich delight 

 in very moist situations, need it twice 

 a day. Xever Avater Avhen the sun is 

 hot. 



TREATMENT OF FROZEN PLANTS. 



During the cold spells our plants are 

 liable to get "snapped" by "Jack 

 Frost." In spite of our precaution in 

 their behalf, some may be found frozen 

 stiff in the morning. 



If this happens, don't get discour- 

 aged. Take the frozen plants tenderly 

 and dip them into cold Avater, as the 

 cistern or hydrant furnishes it (or if 

 the plant is too large for that, sprinkle 

 it for a minute or two), then place 

 them in complete darkness, and in 

 three days at the most you will find 

 them as fresh as ever. 



If the pots are set back at night 

 from the AvindoAvs on a shelf, mantle or 

 table, they will often escape freezing. 

 Fastening a blanket or several thick- 

 nesses of paper against the windows out- 

 side will also tend to protect them. 



A year's subscription for The Aqua- 

 RiUiAi Avill make a very pretty and in- 

 teresting Christmas present for some of 

 your friends. 



