776 



HOUSE PLANTS 



concrete and water useil without stint. In such a room 

 plants can be grown and brought into the living rooms 

 wlien in their best condition. 



In rooms in which plants are kept, any device by which 

 the atmospheric moisture can be increased is desirable: 

 oilcloth on the floor, or a floor of porous tiles; a zinc 

 tray, in which the pots can be set and surrounded with 

 moss; saucers under the pots, the pots being raised 

 slightly to prevent the roots of the plants standing in 

 the water which runs through. By these aids not only 

 can plenty of water be given to the roots, but there will 

 also be some opportunity to sprinkle the leaves, while 

 the evaporation of surplus water will dampen the air. 

 The Japanese porcelain pots are not onlv ornani(-nt:iI 

 but useful; the glaze prevents undue o\:i|'<ii;ii n.h tr..i,i 

 tlie sides, and the legs hold the pot well n, , . . , 

 which may collect in the saucer: thev :ii. .1 

 excellent. Wonrlon tubs arc servicoabi,. I..,- ]:,,-, i.liin- 



beforeorali.r i.i,., - : 1,. .,.. plant's 'should 



never beov.,| i.i: 1;,. i ■ . 1 1 1 ,■ hulkof earth the 



easier it cair 1 1 1 ,, ,1, lu-i i; from the wider 



surface.too, tin iv 1 ,„>;: . . ;,i„aaii.iu. For these rea- 

 sons it is sometimes a gci.il j.lnn to liave window boxes 

 in which several plants can be grown; or the boxes can 

 be filled with moss in which the pots can be plunged. 

 All pots, tubs or boxes for growing plants should have 

 holes in the bottom thmuL-li wliiri, '.v.itcr can pass freely. 



1103 A window-Earden 



Much trouble is hkely to come from the use of unsuit 

 able potting soil. Procure it from an experienced florist, 

 or make it yourself of equal parts rotted sods, old leaf- 

 mold, well-decayed cow manure and clean, sharp sand: 

 discard tea leaves, chip dirt, and the decomposed re- 

 mains of dead stumps. The soil should always be moist 

 when used, not too wet and never dry: it should be 

 made firm, not hard, and a good space left between the 

 surface and rim. Large pots should be drained with 

 potsherds and moss. The best time for potting is just 

 before the plant begins to grow; the next best is just 

 before growth ceases, thus giving the plant opportunity 

 to establish itself in its new quarters before it stops 

 growing. It is not always easy to do this properlv at 

 home, and large and valuable plants should be sent "to a 



HOUSE PLANTS 



florist. Plants growing in the open air should be lifted 

 and potted two weeks or more before bringing into the 

 house, not only before frost but before the nights are 

 cool. Keep them at first in a cool, sha<iy place, gradu- 

 ay accustom them to the sunlight, and carefulh- avoid 

 all drafts. Do not give too much water at the root: 

 some wilting is unavoidable, and cannot be prevented 

 by heavy watering. Give one good application when 

 they are first potted, and sprinkle the foliage and sur- 

 roiindings in the middle of the dav. After they are 

 established, keep them out of doors, on the piazza or 

 porch, until there is danger of frost, but try to bring 

 them into the house before the furnace fires are lighted. 

 A period of rest is natural to all plants. Amateurs 

 .11. 1, make mistakes in trying to force plants to grow 

 ill " inter in the house after a vigorous growth in the 

 "I" n L:niund all summer. Such plants should be rested 



cient quantity to pass through the hole in tlie bottom of 

 the pot: here it can remain an hour or more, and part 

 of It will soak up, back into the pot, but the surplus 

 should be taken away with a sponge, unless tlie pot has 

 legs or It is a plant like calla, English ivy or some ferns, 

 which are uninjured by an over-supply. Water given to 

 the foliage of House Plants in the form of sprav is al- 

 ways helpful. ^ ' 



Insects, dust and sometimes fungous pests are trouble- 

 some to House Plants, due largely to insufficient water- 

 ing and lack of ventilation. The best remedy is frequent 

 washings with warm water and a sponge for plants with 

 large leaves. All plants can be easily cleaned at the 

 kitchen sink or in the bath tub, or advantage can be 

 taken of a mild day, and the work done in the yard with 

 the hose. The forcible application of water will remove 

 most insects, but if scale appears it must be taken oft 

 with a stiff brush. Whale-oil and tobacco soap are too 

 rank for house use; fir-tree oil and Gishurst's compound 

 are less obnoxious. They can be used when the plants 

 are washed with sponge or brush. The florists' preventive 

 against greenfly is impracticable: enough tobacco smoke 

 to harm him would not be tolerated. Tlie red spider can 

 be driven off by spraying with an atomizer, if dis- 

 covered in time. Some plants are not attacked by in- 

 sects, but are injured by dust, e.g., the rubber-tree. 

 Dusting when dry is better than nothing, but washing 

 is best. If fungous diseases appear, the plants should be 

 isolated, giving a chance to recover, or he thrown away. 



Wt'.i.t fn.-t,,r i„ krnpingH 



Ventilation 



ght 

 ■ateful, and 

 the glass, 

 cercised. 

 50° F., and 



Plants in good cull. !iii.. II 1 1. i. 1 



days: the fresh :iii 1 1 , 



will do no harm, , 1 , 



so long as the sun >',,})••■. .■tn.l .!:-. i , 1 1,. 

 The night temperature need iirvc-r c: 



a drop of 5° or even 10° is not likely _„^ 



Precautions must be taken to exclude frost; the blinds 

 must be shut and the curtains pulled down on cold 

 ni.,lits \ 1 iM r ot newspapers between the plants and 

 the wiu<l..«- IS I protection in extremth bad weather, 

 01 liu^i I ■ II -me lampcan be allowed to burn all night 



quire more i m 

 io/K/a, thesagi 

 tida, Pandatiii 



