DECORATIVE 



the plant which has never been allowed to stop 

 growing. If it once stands still, it is almost 

 impossible for the amateur to coax it into 

 growth again that is, satisfactory growth. 

 It may put forth a few leaves now and 

 then, but they are likely to be small ones, 

 utterly unlike the large, rich foliage which 

 constitutes the chief charm of the plant when 

 properly grown. Give it a rich soil, a good- 

 sized pot, a moderate amount of water, and 

 plenty of sunshine, and it will make luxuriant 

 development. See that all these conditions are 

 kept up, and your plant will go steadily ahead 

 and get finer and finer as it increases in size, 

 but allow the soil to become exhausted or the 

 roots to be badly cramped for room, and 

 straightway it will refuse to grow, and this 

 means, nine times out of ten, the end of its 

 usefulness. About all that can be done with 

 it after that is to trade it to the florist, who 

 can give such treatment in his greenhouse as 

 you cannot in the living-room. There he may 

 be able to coax it into renewed growth and get 

 some returns from it in the way of cuttings 

 from which to grow young plants. 



The Ficus, as a general thing, does not 

 branch freely. Most of the plants we see have 



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