THE WINDOW GARDEN. 



Care must be taken about the amount 

 of water given. Only enough to meet 

 the requirements of the plants should 

 be furnished, but it should be borne in 

 mind that plants, when actually growing, 

 require a great deal more than when 

 dormant, as most of them are during 

 the early part of the season. At that 

 time, too, we are likely to have but little 

 sunshine, and that not strong ; therefore 

 the plants really need but little water. 

 But as soon as growth begins, and the 

 days lengthen and the sun strengthens, 

 more must be given, or the plants will 

 suffer. Watch the soil in the pots. 

 When the surface becomes dry — and 

 not before — give another supply, and let 

 that be liberal enough to thoroughly 

 saturate all the soil in the pot. It is 

 not necessary that it be warm, but if 

 procured from well or cistern, see that 

 the chill is taken off, by allowing it to 

 stand in the room where the plants are 

 for half an hour before using. As soon 

 as a plant begins to grow — and before 

 as a general thing — the amateur florist 

 is quite sure to want to help it along by 

 applying a fertilizer of some kind. This 

 is all right if done judiciously, but as 

 a general thing sufficient care is not 

 exercised in this respect. Too much 

 food results in a forced, unhealthy 

 growth, and the plant, instead of being 

 benefited, is greatly injured, and often 

 dies in consequence. Therefore use 

 judgment in the application of any 

 fertilizer. Let it be weak at first, and 

 watch results. If the plant put out fine, 

 well-colored foliage, and the branches 

 are plump and vigorous, be content. 

 Such a growth is better than one char- 

 acterized by great overgrown leaves and 



slender, long-jointed branches. Some 

 plants can stand more fertilizing than 

 others, and some require more. Study 

 the habits of your plants until you learn 

 their peculiarities, as you do those of 

 person.'-.. These understood, you can 

 give the individual treatment necessary 

 without the uncertainty of results which 

 comes from experimenting. Unless you 

 do understand your plants, all your 

 work among them will be largely exper- 

 imental. This the florist who would he 

 successful must avoid as far as possible. 

 He must be sure of himself as well as 

 of fiis plants, and this feeling of security 

 can only come from intimate acquaint- 

 ance with their individual peculiarities. 

 Unless your plants are growing, do not 

 give any stimulant. Plants in a dor- 

 mant condition cannot make use of rich 

 food. _ The unthinking amateur florist 

 sees that his plants are not growing, and 

 does not stop to find out why, but 

 argues that the application of fertilizers 

 increases growth in plants as a general 

 thing, and acts on this belief, applying 

 strong food to them. He expects to 

 see them start into immediate growth, 

 and is surprised when they seem to be 

 languishing instead. If he goes to work 

 to find out the whys and wherefores of 

 floriculture, he will soon satisfy himself 

 that applying manure to a plant that is 

 trying to rest is a dangerous thing to do. 

 Let the plant alone until it gives evi- 

 dence of again being in working condi- 

 tion, as it will by beginning to grow. 

 Then use your fertilizers, but use them 

 with care and judgment always. It is 

 as easy to overfeed a plant as to starve 

 it, and just as harmful. — American 

 Agriculturist. 



109 



