STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 123 



who cultivate them. Should a few children be taught to care for 

 plants and raise flowers, none can tell the pleasures in store for them. 

 Again a little knowledge of plant life gained by the care of a few 

 plants will lead to the study of others, and from these to the study 

 and enj )yment of other objects in nature, up to the Great Source of 

 Life. Thirds a Children's Day at the Fair will certainly be a pleas- 

 ure to some, and the officers will spare no pains to make the day 

 pleasant to those who may visit this department at the Fair. 



CARE OF THE PLANTS, ETC. 



Soil. — Many of the plants will need to be re-potted at once. The 

 best soil for the purpose is a rich garden loam, to which add one-third 

 well rotted stable manure, well mixed. 



Pots. — The best are the common unglazed kind with saucers. 

 Those that are painted or glazed are not desirable for flowering 

 plants ; when these are used extra care should be taken to secure 

 good drainage from the bottom. Before filling the pots with soil a 

 little charcoal and some broken bones will be found very acceptable 

 to the plants, which will soon cover the bone with a net-work of tiny 

 roots. 



Treatment. — Plants are often injured by too frequent waterings. 

 A safe rule is to apply water only when the surface is dry, and then 

 put on enough to thoroughly moisten the soil. Some plants require 

 more water than others, and the same plant at times will require 

 more water than at other times. Sometimes they may need water 

 every day ; at other times several days may go by before the soil calls 

 for more water. Careful attention is all that is required. 



The leaves are the lungs of the plants, and it is necessary that the 

 pores of the leaves be kept open if the plants are kept in healthy 

 condition. In view of this, if the plants are kept in-doors or in dusty 

 places out of doors, they should be washed frequently. A rubber 

 sprinkler may be used for this, or a garden sprinkler ; or if one does 

 not have either, a whisk broom may be used. This sprinkling also 

 keeps off the insects and makes the plants more hardy. 



Have the pot clean, trim the plants often, take off all dead leaves 

 and observe the other directions given, and you may be sure of 

 beautiful window plants. The plant should stand up straight, the 

 earth in the pot should be entirely free from weeds, and all stones 

 and other unnecessary matter should be removed. 



