PLoRictrLTtrne. 999 



dark green color and make it grow very fiwt; but in pntting the last named 

 on the roota do not let any get on the leaves. As nearly every lady has 

 some plant which they cannot pot, from its large size, they would be very 

 glad to know of some way in which they can enrich the soil without going to 

 the trouble of taking the plant out of the pot. By putting the Uquid on 

 every month it will make the soil nearly as rich and do the plant as much 

 good as if they had put it in rich soil. Fme charcoal is excellent to mix with 

 the soil when potting plants, or to sprinkle on the surface of the soil of those 

 already potted. It stimulates the growth of the plants and deepens the 

 colors. Iron filings from a blacksmith or machine shop worked into the soil 

 for plants, will add greatly also to the rich and bright color of the flowers. 



Smilax for a Cnrtaiu.— Last season, writes a lady, I sUpped some smi- 

 lax out of a small pot into a box which I set on a shelf that was on the out- 

 side of a south window. This shelf was eight inches below the top of the 

 window-sill. The box was six inches deep, and so was a little lower thux 

 the sill. With a red-hot poker I burned a row of holes arotind the aides of 

 the box, and filled it with a light, rich soil. When the plant was fully es- 

 tablished and had sent up nice thrifty sprouts, I drove nine small nails along 

 the top of the window-pane, and slipped on to them the looped-up ends of a 

 fine cord; the other ends of the cord were tied each to a nail which was 

 stuck in the box by the sprout it was intended to support. The vinos grew 

 rapidly, and in a few weeks' time had reached the top of the window; a week 

 or two more, and the ends were drooping down from the top, thus forming a 

 graceful valance to my beautiful curtains — a curtain fjar more beautiful than 

 any made by mortal hand could ever be. In October, when the nights were 

 growing frosty, I shpped the looped ends of the cords that supported the 

 vines off the nails, and placed the box with the ^ine on a stand on the inside 

 of the window and sUpped the loops over nails, and so, without any trouble 

 at all, had my \»-indow adorned with this lovely >-ine until Christmas. This 

 vine so airily light, and so graceful, is peculiarly appropriate for the adorn- 

 ment of thin evening dresses, and as lovely for the hair. 



Hot-Water Care for SIrkljr Plants. — M. Willermoz some time since 

 stated that plants in pots may be restored to health by means of hot water; 

 ill-health he maintains, ensues from acid substances in the soil, which, be- 

 ing absorbed by the roots, act as poison. The small roots wither and cease 

 to act, and the upper and younger shoots consequently turn yellow, or be- 

 come spotted, indicative of their morbid state. In snch cases the usual 

 remedy is to transplant into fresh soil, in clean pots with good drainage, and 

 this often with the best results. But his experience of several years has 

 proved the unfailing efficacy of the simpler treatment, which consists in 

 watering abundantly with hot water at a temperature of 14.5 degrees Fahr., 

 having previously stirred the soil of the pots so far as may l>e done without 

 injury to the roots. Water is then given until it runs freely from tlie pots. 

 In his experiments, the water at first came out clear: afterwards it was sen- 

 sibly tinged with brown, and gave an appreciable acid reaction. After this 

 thorough washing, the pots were kept warm, and the plants very soon made 

 new roots, immediately followed by vigorous growth. , 



C;olden-I..eave<l Honteslioe Geraninm — If those who have the golden- 

 leaved horseshoe geraniums will put them in the brightest sunlight, the 

 colors will be brought out so that the plant will be as beautiful aa if it were 

 covered with bloesome. 



