26 Milady's House Plants 



Fresh Air and Atmospheric Moisture 



Fresh air is as necessary to the well-being of plants 

 as it is to animals, the only qualification in its free 

 use being to avoid cold draughts. Correct tempera- 

 ture is difficult to determine where many varieties of 

 plants are concerned, but fortunately they are willing 

 to meet on a common ground as long as extremes 

 are avoided. 



A moist atmosphere is also of great importance to 

 healthy plant life and it is also the most difficult to 

 obtain in our modern Winter homes. Happily, now 

 that the gospel of moist air is being preached as 

 conducive to human health, our house plants will in 

 time share this great benefit. In the meantime we 

 have devised the simple means of creating some local 

 moisture around the window plants that is quite 

 successful when tried and which we have just de- 

 scribed under the head of watering. 



How to Keep Plants Clean 



Cleanfiness embraces freedom from accumulation 

 of dust, the quick detection of the first onslaught of 

 insects and their removal, the removal of decayed 

 foliage and a frequent cleansing of pots and saucers. 

 Continual watering or spraying of the foliage of plants 

 is injurious. Ah occasional washing or spraying for 

 cleansing purposes only is advisable, however, as the 

 leaves are not able to perform their functions if 

 covered by dust or the exudations of insects, or even 

 the oil with which some people are wont to anoint 

 them. 



