THE WINTER HOUSE-GARDEN. 



'E cannot all have a green- 

 house ; we are not, all of 

 us, wealthy enough to en- 

 joy the luxury of a conser- 

 vatory, but there are few of us who can- 

 not have house-plants, if only a few. 

 The true lover of flowers will not be 

 restricted to the out-of-door garden dur- 

 ing the summer months, although there 

 is much said about the unhealthiness of 

 in-door gardening. 



While there are medical authorities to 

 sanction this idea, still the weight of 

 popular opinion is on the side of the 

 flowers ; and even many physicians 

 maintain that even in dormitories, win- 

 dow-gardens exert no injurious effects 

 unless there is lack of ventilation. 



It is, at the same time, true, of course, 

 that flowers in a close room have pre- 

 judicial effects upon those organizations, 

 that possess an aversion to them for 

 which they cannot account. 



The odour of the tuberose, for in- 

 stance, make many people ill, and in 

 such instances it is not necessary to state 

 that those flowers producing such an 

 effect should be banished. 



For our window-garden we do not 

 need a very commodious bay window on 

 the sunny side of a house, and the heat 

 that is necessary to vegetable life is quite 

 as good, been artificial, some say ; but it 

 is only reason to suppose that the sun 

 is important to plants chemically as well 

 as thermally. So, when it is possible, 

 we should choose a window with south- 

 ern exposure. 



Seventy-five degrees by day, and forty- 

 five by night, indicates the proper aver- 

 age. We must take care to provide the 

 room with water in open vessels, so that 

 a proper moisture may accompany the 

 artificial warmth ; if we neglect this, the 

 flowers will fade and the plants cease to 

 flourish. 



Another precaution should be in re- 

 gard to dust. When dust is allowed to 

 settle on plants it closes the respiration 

 of the leaves, and stops their breathing, 

 for the leaves are the lungs of'vegetation. 

 If dust has accumulated by accident or 

 thoughtlessness, it should be removed 

 by a syringe immediately. 



If plants are troubled by worms in 

 the soil, the plants should be removed 

 until the soil has been examined, bit by 

 bit, and if the intruders are there, a little 

 ammonia in a gallon of water poured 

 over the earth will kill them, and give 

 fresh impetus to the flowers. 



For pot-plants the best combination 

 is, one part sand, one of loam, one of leaf- 

 mould, and a small quantity of compost. 



Geraniums, fuchias, and most analog- 

 ous plants demand nothing more, while 

 bulbs do better in a nearly-all sand soil. 

 Vines need something richer. 



Kitchen odours are not healthful to 

 plants, choking them, and stopping their 

 respiration. If, therefore, we must have 

 our house-garden in a room adjoining 

 the kitchen, we must take great pains 

 to change the air frequently, but taking 

 equal care to see that they are not chill- 

 ed by the too great and sudden change 

 of temperature. 



The Spiciosa Fuchsia will fail to bloom 

 if kept growing all the year round. Let 

 it rest during the summer, if you desire 

 it to blossom during the winter. It 

 needs to be kept dry during September, 

 and at least half of its top to be cut off ; 

 then re-pot it in the fall, give it more 

 water, and keep it in a shady place. An 

 east window is best. 



It requires a soil of leaf-mould and 

 sand, and the pot — make sure it is a 

 twelve inch one — must have the best of 

 drainage. Great care and close atten- 

 tion isneeded to make this plant a success. 



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