mathewson] INDOOR PLANTS 13 



of doors on days when the temperature is not too low, and in addi- 

 tion to spray the foliage both above and below as often as possible. 

 In a city apartment this may be done, e.g. in the kitchen tubs, 

 or possibly in the bath tub. 



If gas is used in the home for cooking, etc., the fumes of burning 

 or escaping gas have a very bad effect on plants, especially the 

 ferns, whether hardy or not. Plants should be kept in rooms 

 where gas is not used if possible. No other remedy against the 

 fumes can be applied. Whatever helps ventilation from the 

 human point of view will tend to nullify the effects of gas on plants. 



Sunlight is absolutely indispensable, and as a rule the more 

 the better. If there are only north windows available plants 

 cannot thrive. They can exist, and survive for a time. If south 

 or west windows are available they should be used. Sometimes 

 the light is partially cut off by a stone coping or a fire escape. 

 This will always have a bad effect on the plant. It is difficult 

 to suggest remedies for poor light conditions. If the householder 

 will note places where direct sunlight strikes at certain hours 

 and place the plants there at that time the weakening effects of 

 poor lighting will be partially overcome. Turning the plants 

 around also helps them. If a sunny window is available no thought 

 need be given to the light factor; it will take care of itself. Even 

 for ferns, direct sunlight is better than too little light. 



Most people think that they know how to water a plant, and 

 yet many plants in the home or school are killed by improper 

 watering. It should be borne in mind that the roots need air 

 as well as the parts above ground, but if a plant is kept constantly 

 soaked the effect is the same as if the air supply were shut off. 

 Root hairs, although thin-walled, are not like fish-gills in their 

 physiological functioning and few species can get air from water. 

 (English Ivy, Coleus, and Tradescantia are some of the common 

 exceptions to this). The practical question always is, how much 

 water, and how often needed? If we think of what happens out 

 of doors we have the answer. The soil there is not continually 

 wet and yet plants thrive. On the other hand, if the fine rootlets 

 of a plant get dry the cells die. After that it is only a question as 

 to the length of time the plant can survive. If vegetative repro- 

 duction is powerful, as in the geranium, the plant may be extremely 

 resistant and recover if watering is resumed. The remedy for the 

 results of excessive watering is to increase the intervals. Not a 



