HAND-BOOK OF PRACTICAL 



moss covered rocks, tends to keep an even temperature in the 

 soil. Another good principle and practice is to insert the crock 

 in which the plant grows, into another, so much larger that it 

 will leave one quarter inch of space around it, and one inch at 

 bottom ; fill this space with finely pulverized charcoal, placing 

 more or less of fine pebbles in the bottom to secure the drainage 

 from the main pot. Some mingle clean sand with the charcoal ; 

 this tends to keep the eafth around the roots of the plants from 

 immediate direct changes from moisture to drought ; or when 

 watering the plants a light watering of the line of charcoal 

 should be given. Avoid the use of guano or other stimulating 

 manures ; but let the rain water with which you water always be 

 of a tepid warmth, but if it can be so, from the sun's rays. 

 Where plants are left open in the room, they should be covered 

 with a light cloth or paper, during the process of sweeping or 

 dusting. Flora loves cleanliness. 



It is unadvisable to grow a great variety of plants in the house. 

 Many that are beautiful under the regular temperature and care 

 of the greenhouse, prove of no value when placed in the change- 

 able atmosphere and dust of a living room. 



OUSTIDE WINTER GARDENING. 



Lawns or front door yards, as often called, where beds of flowers 

 have been during the summer, may be kept in good appearance 

 at a cheap rate, by obtaining from the woods or from waste trees 

 in nurseries, branches of evergreens of varieties, and setting the 

 ends in the ground, arranging the heights as well as shades of 

 foliage to give a pleasing effect Another way is to obtain small 

 plants, varieties of evergreens, and plant them, mulching the 

 ground around and between them. These can be removed in 

 spring, set in a shady place, and used again the coming winter. 



