AMONG THE FLOWERS. 



season by the drainage in the pot becoming 

 \ choked by earth worms. 



Imperfect drainage in pot plants soon pro- 

 duces a sour condition of the soil, and con- 

 sequently an unhealthy plant. If the ash- 

 bed were in more common use during sum- 

 mer by amateur plant growers than it is, 

 there would be fewer failures with window 

 plants than t^iere is where plants are stood 

 about on common garden soil, and where 

 the moisture caused by watering the plants 

 is always a great inducement for earth 

 worms to congregate. Gravel or coarse 

 sand are good materials to stand pot plants 

 on during summer, but neither of them are 

 as effective as coal ashes. 



FlvOWERS THAT WIIvL BE BENEFITED. 



Amongst the plants that will be benefited 

 by being given the position mentioned are 

 Azaleas, Pelargoniums, old plants of Ger- 

 aniums, Palms, Rubber Plants, Aspidistras, 

 Fuchsias, Cordylines, Cyperus alternifolia 

 (Umbrella plant), most varieties of Cacti, 

 as well as many of the stronger growing 

 winter flowering Begonias and other plants. 

 Most of the pots of the plants mentioned 

 can be plunged — or partially plunged for a 

 few inches, perhaps — in the ashes so as to 

 require very little attentioni during the sum- 

 mer. The pots of «v-acti, however, should 

 not be plunged in the ashes, as there is dan- 

 ger of their getting too much water at the 

 roots. The Cacti plants would do much 

 better if they stood away by themselves, 

 where they could be given special treatment 

 in watering, as a too plentiful supply at 

 the roots is oftentimes the cause of non- 

 success in Cacti culture. 



Many of the plants mentioned, such as 

 Palms, Rubber plants. Aspidistras and 

 Fuchsias in flower, make splendid decora- 

 tive plants for grouping or dotting in 

 shaded positions on the lawn during sum- 

 mer. When these are used for this pur- 

 pose it would benefit the plants very much 

 if the pots were plunged in the soil nearlv 



or quite to the rim. If about 2 inches of 

 coal ashes were placed underneath the pot 

 it would prevent, to a large extent, the in- 

 trusion of earth worms into the pot. A 

 handful of air-slaked lime sprinkled under- 

 neath the pot will answer the same purpose, 

 as the garden worm has a great dislike to 

 lime. 



A good remedy for earth worms in the 

 soil of potted plants is to give the plants a 

 watering with a weak solution of lime water. 

 The same quantity of lime — about a pound 

 — as before mentioned, put into about two 

 gallons of water, will make a strong- 

 enough solution. A teacupful of this ap- 

 plied to the soil once or twice at an interval 

 of a week between each application will 

 usually expel the worms from the pot, and 

 will not injure the plant. The Hme should 

 be allowed to settle in the solution and the 

 solution be strained off before using. 



HOW TO REST PLANTS. 



The best and really only available method 

 of resting most window plants in summer is 

 by placing the plants in a cool, partially 

 shaded position and by giving them a very 

 limited supply of water at the roots, or in 

 the case of some kinds of bulbous rooted 

 plants withholding water altogether from 

 them. This is the case with the bulbs of 

 the Freesia when they are through flower- 

 ing. The soil in the pots should be al- 

 lowed to dry gradually until the foHage is 

 quite yellow, and no more water should be 

 given them until they are started into 

 growth again in the autumn. 



Many of the herbaceous varieties of the 

 Amaryllis require almost the same treatment 

 but not quite as severe as the Freesia, a little 

 water very occasionally during the summer 

 being best for most varieties of Amaryllis. 

 The Vollotas and evergreen Amaryllis 

 again should be given sufficient water to 

 barely keep the soil moist during summer, 

 as a too dry condition of the soil does not 

 suit these last named. 



