DECORATIVE PLANTS 



35 



third sand. The plant must have plenty of moisture, but 

 the water must not stand in the saucer. The leaves 

 should be kept free from dust by washing them with 

 a garden sprinkler at intervals. Occasionally remove 

 some of the topsoil, fill in half . an inch of powdered 

 sheep or cow manure, and then cover the manure with 

 a layer of loose soil. This will keep the plant in a 

 thrifty condition. 



Aspidistras are propagated by means of cuttings taken 

 from the roots. 



FERNS 



The Boston fern is a graceful, rapid- growing, and 

 healthy house plant. It thrives in any room, but is most 

 successful in places 

 where it does not 

 receive much strong 

 sunlight. During the 

 summer it should be 

 kept on a stand out 

 of doors in the shade, 

 where it will have a 

 free circulation of air 

 from all sides. 



A fern will make 

 its best growth dur- 



, , . ,, FIG. 25. A Boston Fern 



ing the summer it 



repotted immediately after it is taken out of the house. 



It should have a liberal supply of moisture, but the pot 



