474 AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 



do not suffer water to stand in the saucers unless it be for bulb- 

 ous roots or water-plants, as the Calla, when blossoming. Let 

 light and air be admitted as freely as is found safe. With care 

 in this respect, any arrangement by which the room can be 

 filled with the steam of clear water twice a week, for a few 

 hours at a time, until it moistens the leaves, will preserve the 

 plants in perfect health. For this purpose, a flexible steam- 

 tube, that will fit on to the steam-tube of a kitchen boiler-cover, 

 may be bought for about twenty cents a foot. If, however, 

 they are in the parlor, this can not be done, and, whether there 

 be dust or not, showering or dipping will be essential, or the 

 more tedious process of washing each plant leaf by leaf with a 

 soft sponge. 



All winter watering and washing of plants should be done 

 in the morning, or at least when the heat is rising ; but the 

 steam may be let in at night, and, if desired, form an impor- 

 tant part of the heating medium during that time. 



Upon the south side of any dwelling a conservatory or plant- 

 room may be made, in which plants will grow and bloom finely 

 through the winter with no more artificial heat than may be 

 afforded by a register from the adjoining room, and the occa- 

 sional use of steam as above directed. For such a room or 

 conservatory the sashes should be glazed on both sides, about 

 an inch space intervening between the panes ; and, as this 

 double glazing makes the sashes heavy, provision for admit- 

 ting air should be made by having one or two of them short, 

 and arranged to slide horizontally. 



No shutters are needed, but shades will be found essential ; 

 for, if the full sunlight be admitted, the oft-repeated and great 

 fluctuations of temperature between noon and midnight, or be- 

 tween the warmer and colder days of winter, will forbid success, 

 except with the very hardiest plants. An equable but grad- 

 ually advancing temperature must by all means be secured. 



If a cheap green-house is desired, one may be built precise- 

 ly as directed for a cold grapery, page 355. Arrange the 

 " staging" for your plants, consisting of shelves, placed stair 

 fashion, six inches wide, and varying from seven to ten inches 

 high, leaving a broad platform toward the back wall, upon 



