542 



SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



Ferns and Foliage Plants. — Plants should fit the purpose for which 

 they are intended. If a green and growing plant for house decoration 

 during the winter months, one that can be moved from place to place, is 

 wanted, the aspidistra, dracaena, cocos and other palms, asparagus plumo- 

 sus, rubber plant, auraucaria (Norfolk Island Pine), and with restrictions, 

 the Boston, Scott's and crested ferns should be chosen. Maidenhair ferns 

 do not generally succeed with house culture, but of them all Adiantum 

 gracillimum, cuneatum, and Capillus-Vcneris are best. For the table, 

 small ferns in a fern dish are as good as anything except the pots of spring 

 bulbs as they are brought in from the cellar. The fern dish should have a 



porous earthen dish in which 

 to grow the plants, regardless 

 of the ornamental character 

 of the dish in which it rests. 

 Ferns, purchased as "table 

 ferns," are but baby big ferns, 

 and are good to use in a fern 

 dish. As they become larger, 

 they should be transplanted 

 to larger pots or to a fern box 

 and placed in a sunless win- 

 dow. 



Flowering Plants. ■ — For 

 the sunny window flowering 

 plants may be used. A shelf 

 on castors is the best stand, 

 as it may be turned around 

 occasionally. A box the 

 length of the window and 

 from six to eight inches deep 

 may be used. Set the plant 

 jars up an inch above the 

 bottom of the tray in order 

 that they may not be too wet. For plants there is a good variety: 

 Abutilon, flowering begonias; fuchias, swainsomia, billbergia, Quen- 

 ista, geraniums (especially " Christmas Pink"), cuphea, lobelia, oxalis 

 (also for hanging basket), cyclamen (in shaded spot), Chinese, starry, 

 and "Baby" primroses, stevia, Marguerites, candytuft, alyssum, agera- 

 turn, heliotrope, bouvardia, balsam (''touch-me-not"), cactus, and plants 

 mentioned later which may be brought from the outdoor summer gardens. 

 Among bulbs, amaryllis, calla and the so-called "Dutch bulbs" are prob- 

 ably the most satisfactory of all flowering plants for the house. A dozen 

 Paper white narcissus may be grown in an eight-inch deep glass dessert- 

 dish half full of sand, above which the bulbs rest, held firmly in place by 



1 Courtesy of House and Garden, Published by Robert J. McBride & Co., N. Y. 



A Large Boston Fern. 1 



