22 BRITISH FLORAL DECORATION 



clean water should be used for sponging, as any- 

 thing of an oily nature, although it brightens the 

 leaves temporarily, stops up the pores and soon 

 kills the plant. In the case of Ferns it is difficult 

 to sponge the fronds, so I advise their being taken 

 to the sink once a week and there syringed with 

 cold water, but never do this out of doors except 

 in the summer. 



When the plants want re-potting, which is not 

 very often, I always advise their being taken to the 

 nearest nursery, as they all require a different com- 

 post. Ordinary garden soil is worse than useless 

 for Palms or Ferns, or, indeed, any plant in a pot. 



There are very few plants that will live long in 

 a draughty place, and at the end of this chapter I 

 shall give you lists of them ; neither is it fair to ask 

 plants to thrive in dark passages, as it is contrary to 

 the law of Nature. 



During winter and spring a great amount of 

 pleasure can be got out of growing bulbs in pretty 

 Doulton or Japanese bowls. Jadoo moss, fertilised 

 fibre, or clean pebbles, kept constantly moist, are 

 all that is needed to ensure success. It is really 

 remarkable what fine results can with care be ob- 

 tained, but even if the results are not quite as sen- 

 sational as one would wish, I consider one discovers 



