THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



231 



oleanders and othei- thick-leaved plants, 

 adhering closely to the stems and leaves, 

 is not so easily destroyed. These may be 

 washed with whale-oil soap and water, 

 or better, with Gishnrst compound, an 

 English remedy. A sponge dipped in 

 a little sweet or kei'osene oil, and wiped 

 u{) the stem and under the leaves oc- 

 cassionally, will keej) off the scale 

 effectually. The speaker had applied 

 this successfully to plants which had 

 been neglected and got very dirty, 

 using kerosene so freely as to have 

 some misgivings how it would affect 

 the plants, but they are now showing 

 remarkably fine growth. The method 

 given for destroying the green fly and 

 scale will also be effectual for the red 

 spider. 



Injudicious watering is a gi"eat in- 

 juiy to plants ; too much water is 

 oftener the trouble than not enough. 

 The soil on the top of the pot will 

 indicate the need of water by looking 

 dry, and, when water' is given, it should 

 be done thoroughly, and not in a mere 

 driblet, that will not go half through 

 the soil. No rule can be given for 

 watering, except to give when the 

 plants need it, and never without tak- 

 ing off the chill, if cold, by letting it 

 stand in the room or adding warm 

 water. Plants in warm rooms require 

 to be kept moist at all times, but not 

 saturated. As the days grow longer 

 and the sun gets higher, and the plants 

 begin to grow and flower, more water 

 will be needed. For plants close to 

 the glass a box filled with sphagnum, 

 in which the pots may be plunged, 

 will be of great help in keeping an even 

 degree of moisture and avoid spattering 

 the soil on the shelves and glass. 

 Lycofodium denticxdatum planted on 

 the sphagnum, will give a clean green 

 carpet for the plants, but must not be 

 allowed to cover the soil so that it 

 cannot be judged when water is re- 

 ((uired. 



In regard to heat, a good rule is that 

 when you feel comfortable yourself the 

 temperature is about right for house, 

 plants, most of them being from tem- 

 l)erate climates. But never be without 

 a thermometer in the room ; from 70^ 

 to 75° by day, and 45° at night, will be 

 a good guide. The blinds should be 

 arranged to slide between the shelves 

 and the glass, and there should be out- 

 side shutters to put up in unusually 

 cold weather. They should be light, 

 and in small sections, to as to be easily 

 put up by any one who happens to be 

 at home. 



As to the kind of plants, Mr. Barker 

 recommended for each side of the bay 

 window a vine of some kind, such as 

 the variegated Gohcea i^candens and 

 tropseolums, or some of the maurandyas. 

 One or more wires may be run up each 

 side and over the top, on which to train 

 the vines, and they may hang from the 

 top in festoons. Then wich some hooks 

 in the top on which to suspend hanging 

 baskets, the window will be well start- 

 ed. For these baskets, the Saxifraga 

 umbrosa, better known as London pride, 

 and the Lysimachia nummtdaria, or 

 moneywort, though old and common, 

 are very pretty ; and with such other 

 plants as good taste may dictate, the 

 baskets will add much to the effect of 

 the window. 



A very pretty plant is Torenia 

 Fournieri. The flowers are produced 

 so freely as to form a complete bouquet ; 

 the habit is compact and the foliage 

 dark green. It is an annual, and 

 easily I'aised from seed. Callas are 

 beautiful both in foliage and flower. 

 Do not overpot them, for when pot- 

 bound and well watered they bloom all 

 the better. A very essential point in 

 their culture is to give them a season 

 of rest in summer by turning the pots 

 on their sides \inder a wall or fence, 

 keeping them there till they show signs 

 of gi'owth in fall ; then shake ofl the 



