1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. 



101 



fill faces peer out from the murky atmosphere 

 of maehine shops, or nourishing among the 

 grocer's baiTcls and boxes out rival in fragrance 

 his most delicious spices. 



Yet there is still room for more and better 

 floral adornment of our houses and places of 

 business. In truth, no home should be with- 

 out its influence. No one fully realizes tiU it 

 is proved by actual expeiience, how much bene- 

 fit, both moral and mental, may acciiie from 

 the proper cultivation of a single plant. This 

 is especially the case in a family of young peo- 

 ple ; and if any mother has never tried it, let 

 her begin the experiment as soon Sis possible. 

 Some, I know, have attempted the growth of 

 house plants, and meeting small success, or 

 failing entirely, have given It up. Let these, 

 too, begin once more, and by following a few 

 simple rules, see if they cannot have healthy 

 and handsome flowers. 



And now the first Avord of advice is — do not 

 have too many. One sti'ong, blooming plant 

 is better than half-a-dozen sickly things that 

 never bloom. 



Remember that plants need light and sun- 

 shine. Give them the morning simshine, if 

 possible. If you have no window looking to- 

 ward the east or south, the afternoon light is 

 better than none. 



Water them regularly, — always ivitk toater 

 blood ivarm ; in the coldest weather rather 

 warmer. It is a good plan to see how wann 

 the water is, after draining through the pot in 

 the saucer. Unless blood warm, then its tem- 

 perature must be increased in future. Never 

 pour loater into the saucers, they are only for 

 drainag6. Never apply water to the collar or 

 crown of a plant ; if poured upon the soil it 

 should be near the edge of the pot. 



Never use glazed pots ; or crockery or paint- 

 ed vessels ; except as a covering to that which 

 holds the plant. The ordinary light colored, 

 soft baked clay pots are the best. 



Use good soil, — of this more particularly 

 hereafter, — and no manure but in a liquid form ; 

 and this at regular intervals, according to the 

 season and the desire for hastening or retarding 

 the blossoms. 



Keep both pots and plants clean. Never 

 allow the pots to get mouldy, which they never 

 will, if washed with soap-suds thoroughly every 

 week. At the same time, also, wash the leaves 

 of the plants. 



Remove all flowers and all leaves as soon as 

 they begin to decay. 



And, now, two of the most important rules : 

 Avoid extremes of heat and cold ; never allow 

 one insect to remain alive upon or near your 

 plants. To accomplish this last requisite, dis- 

 agreeable as it may be, the thumb and finger 

 remedy is the best. A careful search once a 

 week over every part of the plant, especial at- 

 tention being paid to the under side of the 

 leaves, and the most tender jjuds and branches, 

 will supersede the use of smoke and sulphur 

 and tobacco tea. A soft tooth brush to de- 

 tach the insects and destroy their eggs, is of 

 great service where the creatures have actually 

 gained an abiding place. 



Keep the temperature of your room nearly 

 equal, both night and day. Never let it fall 

 below forty-five, nor rise above sixty or sixty- 

 five ; and occasionally ventilate it, lowering the 

 window on fair days, when the sun shines 

 warmly on the plants, taking care that no 

 draught reaches them. 



Loosen the earth about the roots of the 

 plants, once in two or three weeks, by digging 

 it carefully with a common steel table-fork ; 

 and be sure that it never gets caked or crusted. 

 Apply water either by a small water pot hav- 

 ing a finely perforated nose, or use a piece of 

 the finest sponge — filling it and squeezing it 

 over the leaves and branches, in a shower; 

 never water them from a pitcher or mug, and 

 never wet the leaves when the sun shines hotly 

 upon them. These particulars, carefully heed- 

 ed, will insure a good and beautiful growth of 

 all our best parlor plants. 



At first sight there seems a good deal of 

 work to do ; but, when once the habit is estab- 

 lished, it can all be accomplished with very 

 little trouble. 



[The next paper will furnish a list of plants best adapt- 

 ed to house culture, give suggestions as to choice for par- 

 ticular situations, mention facts in the history of each, 

 and present in detail the most successful method of its 

 culture and propagation.] 



HOTJSEEOLD ECOWOMY. 



CONTRIBUTED FOR THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Mr. Editor : — I send you a few receipts 

 which I have found useful, hoping thereby to 

 do a little towards filling up the column in your 

 paper devoted to "Household Economy," and 

 to which I have come to look for many valuable 



