FLOBICULTURE. SM 



atom — ^beipg set too deep into the soiL Watering with very cold water when 

 the soil iu the pota haa been exposed to the sun will also cause them to die 

 off suddenly. Plants in pots should never have the pots expoeed to the full 

 blaze of sunshine, especially in the middle of the day. The crowns of her- 

 baceous plants that have been kept dry, or comparatively so, during their 

 season of rest, will rot away if the balls of roots are too hberally suppUed 

 with water. They should be kept in the shade, and but sparingly supplied 

 with water, and that rather tepid, until they develop a leaf or two. 



Some plants, especially roees, when kept in rooms, are very apt to beoome 

 mildewed, to the certain destruction of the leaves and flower buds. As soon 

 as it shows itself the leaver should be washed with soap and water, rinsed 

 off and flowers of sulphur dusted on with a dredging-box or a pepper-box, 

 washing it off after it has been on for two or three days. 



The whole art of keeping plants in rooms is to provide ui equable, moist 

 temperature, Ught according to the nature of the plants, regular moderate 

 watering, good draim^e, suitable soil, cleanliness, and an aveidance of all 

 sudden checks or shocks to the plant cither in temperature or humidity. 

 These are always injurious, as they produce disease and render tiio plant 

 liable to the attacks of insects and fungoid growtibfS. 



Cheap and Pretty Ilangtng Baskets. — The sweet potato, which is 

 basket and contents in one, has, when successful, a very omament&l effect. 

 Truth compels us to state that it is not alwaj-a succefesful, and a yellow, 

 scraggy appearance of foliage will sometimes reward the best-intentioned ci.- 

 deuvora; but given ordinarily Da vorable 8urrouj:dings, which include heat and 

 sunshine, this curious hanging basket thrives and covers a large space with 

 bright-hued verdure. A large, sound root should be selected, and the top for 

 some distance down is then removed. Next comc-s the disagreeable process 

 of remo%'ing the inside— leaving a wall all arotind, and a thicker one at the 

 bottom. Three holes arc then bored at equal distances, about half an inch 

 from the top; and into these the suspending cords, which unite at the upper 

 ends, are fiistened. VNTien filled with water up to the holes, the sweet potato 

 basket is completed; and if placed in a suiuiy window, it should be covered 

 with shoots and leaves in a few weeks' time. Some of the sprays can be 

 trained upward, and others allowed to droop. The red-ekiimcd sweet potato 

 has a pretty streak of silver in the foliage, and the two varieties on either 

 Ride of a window make an agreeable contrast. If preferred, the hollow root 

 '•an be filled with earth or sand instead of water — if with the latter, there 

 sbotild be two or three small pieces of charcoal at the bottom. A carrot 

 ♦reated in the same way sends forth a mass of feathery foliage whose vivid 

 green brings a sort of sunshine into the dreariest day; and even a large 

 sponge suspended by cords, thoroughly moistened and planted with flax, 

 rape-seed, or any low growing verdure, \a not to be despised. A very pretty 

 basket can be manufactured by taking an ordinary one of wire and fastening 

 to It raiain-stems, or bits of thin >vire properly bent, and then dipping the 

 whole into melted sealing-wax of a vem^on color until it is thoroughly 

 coated. Brushing it over with the mixture would take less materiaL The 

 effect of theses coralLzed spraj-s, glowing through deUcate green vines, is 

 really beautiful. Every one cannot succeed with a basket of growing plants, 

 but almost any one can succeed with ivy; and a very ornamental hanging 

 basket that requires little care can be made in the following way: Almost 

 any kind of basket will answer, and there should be a good collection of 

 8,uniniQ leaves vaniiisbed and prepared ia sprays. Six or eight two otmc^ 



