THIRD WEEK IN DECEMBER 



out rootlets, and can then be potted up separately. Each 

 bright green leaf is broadly edged with white, and the 

 growth of the plant is most elegant. Aralia japonica 

 (often, though erroneously, called the castor-oil plant) is 

 hardy enough to grow in the open air in Devonshire, where 

 it expands into a large shrub. This plant is nearly related 

 to the ivy, and its thick leather-like leaves will resist the 

 effects of gas if kept clean by occasional sponging with tepid 

 water ; and the same may be said of the indiarubber plant 

 (Ficus elasticus), but this is not nearly so hardy as the 

 aralia, requiring a warm room and immunity from sharp 

 draughts to do well, with careful watering, too, according 

 to its needs. 



Too many of us leave the watering ot our room plants to 

 the hands of a busy servant, who naturally has no time 

 to examine the state of the soil, which she deluges with cold 

 water regularly every morning, or perhaps gives each plant 

 a driblet of water once a week, summer and winter alike ; 

 with a fine disregard to the nature and needs of each 

 individual plant. This treatment naturally results in the 

 destruction of the roots and the death of the plant ; and 

 it cannot be too clearly understood that hard and- fast-times 

 and plans of watering cannot possibly suit all plants alike, 

 for one is growing rapidly (needing much moisture), whilst 

 another is dormant and prefers to be kept fairly dry ; the 

 position of the plant with regard to the fire or the sunshine, 

 the size of its pot, the nature of its soil, and the amount 

 and strength of its roots all being modifying conditions 

 which need consideration before we wield the watering can. 

 But the general rule is this : to give tepid water in the 

 morning (during the winter) only to such plants as have 

 dry surface soil and which will not stain the finger laid on 

 it ; supplying enough water each time to reach the lower 

 roots and run through the pot ; for the driblet system 

 naturally results in rotting the upper roots, whilst those below 

 are starved to death. But few plants (except arum lilies, 

 hyacinths, and other bulbs, cytisus, reeds, and azaleas in full 

 bloom, with a few others) enjoy standing in stagnant water 



447 AA 



