On the Management of Plants in Rooms. 1 3 



to be any stated time, but when they are in want of it ; and 

 that want they will generally make known themselves, by 

 the drooping- of their leaves ; in hot weather, they should be 

 looked over at least once, if not twice, a day, and at these 

 times, only to water those that are in want of it. I am of 

 the belief, that one half of parlor plants are killed or sickened 

 either by withholding water, or making too frequent use of it; 

 by the former, the plants will soon begin to lose their leaves, 

 and by the latter, the soil will be kept saturated, and the roots 

 become rotten, which must cause the death of the plants. 

 There is another evil, practised by the ladies, which I will 

 mention ; that is, having the plants in saucers, and water- 

 ing them at the roots ; this is a practice that cannot be too 

 strongly deprecated. The water ought always to be poured 

 on the surface, so that the fibres may be all equally refreshed. 

 I am aware that there are many persons who will not agree 

 with me in deprecating the use of saucers, on account of the 

 carpet and furniture ; but let me observe that I have no ob- 

 jection to the use of saucers, provided they do not allow wa- 

 ter to stand in them. Such plants, however, as the ^ga- 

 panthiis umbellatus and Calla sethiopica, &c., can never be 

 injured, but, on the contrary, will be benefited by standing 

 in water ; and, at times, let the plants be taken out of doors 

 and sprinkled over head, which greatly refreshes them, and 

 takes the dust from the leaves. If any of the Cactese tribe 

 are kept through the winter, they should not be watered ; 

 but after they begin to show their flower buds, they should 

 have a very liberal supply; on no account keep them always 

 damp. 



Destroying insects that annoy plants. — The chief enemy is the 

 green fly, which can be easily destroyed by placing the 

 plants in a close room and fumigating thism with tobacco 

 smoke. Let the room be well filled with smoke for about 

 half an hour, and their death will be the result. Myrtles, 

 oranges, &c., are infected with a brown scaly insect, which 

 cannot be destroyed by tobacco smoke. They must be 

 washed, leaf by leaf, with a piece of sponge, dipped in a 

 mixture of soap and water, impregnated with a little tobac- 

 co. The whole should be well mixed, and used a little 



^^^"^- ^^^^^' Robert Murray 



Waltham, Mv. 21th, 1835. ICobert Murray. 



The above communication we cannot too strongly recommend to the 

 notice of those of our readers who cultivate plants in rooms, more par- 

 ticularly to our fair friends, who are desirous of preserving their plants 

 in good health. We hope Mr. Murray will continue his remarks, and 

 treat more minutely on several of the species and varieties which flour- 

 ish best in such situations. — Conds. 



