OF HOUSE PLANTS 



Fortunately washing, combined with fre- 

 quent showerings between times, does much to 

 keep down insects and therefore it serves a 

 double purpose. Clean, tepid water should be 

 used, and it should be applied to the whole 

 plant, especial care being taken to have it 

 reach the underside of the leaves. 



Few plants will do well in a very dry air. 

 Those that do best in dry rooms are kinds 

 with thick, firm foliage, like the Ficus, Aspi- 

 distra, and Palm. Plants of a more delicate 

 foliage will soon show the effect of a too dry 

 atmosphere after the rooms are closed against 

 the admission of fresh air, in fall, and the fires 

 are set going, by yellowing foliage and a cessa- 

 tion of vigorous growth. The red spider — 

 that most voracious of all insect enemies — 

 fairly revels in a hot, dry atmosphere, and the 

 effect of his attacks upon plants will soon be 

 seen upon plants that were apparently in per- 

 fect health a short time before. Moisture in 

 the air will, to a considerable extent, counter- 

 act the bad efi^ect of our overheated rooms, 

 and it will also have a tendency to check the 

 ravages of the spider; therefore a double bene- 

 fit results from its use. The problem is — how 

 to saturate the air most effectively with it, and 



109 



