

MANAGEMENT OF HOUSE PLANTS. 271 



HANGING BASKETS. 



There are few ways of arranging plants that give 

 better satisfaction than in hanging baskets. If those 

 made of wire are used, they should be lined with green 

 moss, or sphagnum, from the swamp, and filled with a 

 light, but rich soil. The glazed earthen pots are not 

 porous, and the soil soon becomes sour, if the watering 

 is not done very carefully ; although less ornamental, 

 the unglazed pots will be likely to give a better growth 

 of plants. To hold the water, and prevent the baking 

 of the surface, a thin layer of moss or sphagnum should 

 be placed over it. From the fact that they are exposed 

 at all times to drying influences, they need a copious 

 supply of water. In case they dry out at any time, it 

 will be well to dip them in a tub of water, as dry sphag- 

 num takes up water very slowly. For the center of 

 the basket, it is best to take some graceful, drooping 

 plants, such as dracaenas or cordylines, caladiums, 

 begonias, ferns, small palms, pandanus, geraniums, and 

 particularly ivy geraniums. Around these, if the bas- 

 ket is a large one, small upright or drooping plants, such 

 as alyssums, lobelias, verbenas, anthericums, coleus, 

 achy ran thes, saxifrage, mikanias, mahernia, othonna, 

 Isolepis gracilis, mimulus, nierembergia, mesembryan- 

 themums, and other small plants may be used. In 

 addition to the trailing plants mentioned, such others 

 as Kenilworth (coliseum) ivy, moneywort and trades- 

 cantia, of various kinds. Tropseolums and variegated 

 vincas will be desirable for hanging over the edge of the 

 basket, while the German ivy, madeira vine, cypress 

 vine, English ivy, and other climbers may be trained up 

 the wires or chains, and festooned to some of the sur- 

 rounding objects. While wire baskets or those made of 

 earthenware, especially for this purpose, are best 

 adapted, there is often about the house a variety of cast- 

 off utensils that can be used as hanging baskets. 



