MANAGEMENT OF HOUSE PLANTS. 259 



pots would then be less likely to dry out. A simple prop- 

 agating bed. can be very easily arranged by supplying , 

 the necessary clean sand, and a lamp to furnish bottom 

 heat, unless heating pipes run along under the shelf, 

 when they would only need to be boxed in. In case the 

 lamp is used, it will be necessary to provide some sort of 

 a shield to prevent it from setting fire to the wooden 

 shelf. A shallow galvanized iron pan filled with plaster, 

 suspended above the lamp and close to the bottom of the 

 shelf, will answer the purpose. 



If an ordinary window is to be used, it will be well 

 to have a similar shelf, at the hight of the window sill. 

 If made two or three feet longer than the window is 

 wide, it will hold a considerable number of plants. For 

 the bay window and the common window as well, if the 

 size of the room admits of it, a plant stand with shelves 

 in the form of stairs, or with a flat top, can be used to 

 good advantage to display the larger plants. 



By having it arranged with casters, if the plants 

 that require a high temperature are kept upon it, on 

 cold nights it will be an easy matter to roll it back away 

 from the window and thus save the tender plants from 

 becoming chilled. 



SOIL FOR AND CARE OF HOUSE PLANTS. 



In a general way, the directions given for green- 

 house plants will apply to those grown in the dwelling. 

 In the village or city, where it is difficult to obtain a suit- 

 able compost, the admixture of street sweepings with 

 fresh garden loam will answer very well, although, if 

 only a small amount is needed, it will be better to obtain 

 some prepared compost from a florist. Unless new pots 

 are used, they should be well soaked and scrubbed, to 

 remove the mold that usually forms on them, and thus 

 open the pores. A failure often results from using too 

 large pots, as a small plant growing in a large quantity 



