December, 19 13 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



4*9 



ble condition can be effec- 

 tively remedied in two ways : 

 first, by adequate ventilation, 

 and, second, by evaporating 

 water in a glazed porcelain 

 bowl or pitcher placed on or 

 near a radiator, and filled 

 regularly with water. These 

 precautions are not only nec- 

 essary for the health of the 

 plants, but the inmates of the 

 house as well, as they will 

 surely suffer, although per- 

 haps not so perceptibly, from 

 an abnormally dry atmos- 

 phere. As to the amount of 

 water to be applied to the 

 soil in which plants are 

 growing, perfection in that 

 art can be attained only by 

 practice and observation. 

 But here are a few general 

 rules which will help ma- 

 terially : First, all pots should 

 be thoroughly drained, so 

 that any surplus moisture 

 may be absorbed through the 

 soil readily, and the bottom 



The Cineraria is, unfortunately, subject to the attacks of green-flies. There 

 is not a more showy pot plant grown. A favorite Easter gift-plant 



soms in the inside of the 

 room, they should be turned 

 half-way about every two or 

 three weeks. The matter of 

 fresh air is equally as im- 

 portant as that of light. 

 Plants are probably more 

 neglected in this regard than 

 in any other; a close, con- 

 fined atmosphere is not only 

 harmful to the health of the 

 plants themselves, but offers 

 the most favorable condition 

 to the attack of most of the 

 insect enemies of plants. 

 Give your plants plenty of 

 fresh air. This does not 

 mean, of course, that they 

 will stand having windows 

 or doors left open directly 

 upon them in cold weather. 

 Use common sense in admit- 

 ting it indirectly and a little 

 at a time; but you can put it 

 down as a safe rule to give 

 your plants as much fresh 

 air as possible while main- 

 taining a sufficiently high 



of the pot should never be allowed to stand in water. Sec- 

 ond, the amount given will depend upon the plant and also 

 whether or not it is in a state of active growth or in a more 

 or less dormant condition. In the latter case it will require 

 very little water. Third, the condition of the soil rather 

 than the length of time that has elapsed since previous 

 watering will guide the gardener as to whether it is time to 

 water again; for most plants the soil, after receiving a thor- 

 ough watering, should be left until it begins to dry out on 

 the surface before watering again; small applications fre- 

 quently made are almost always injurious. Fourth, as a 

 general rule, in the cold and dark weather of the winter 

 months, do the watering on the morning of a bright day, 

 so that the foliage can be dried off before night, and in the 

 hot bright days of the summer months do your watering in 

 the evening, so that the soil will have a chance to absorb it 

 before it evaporates from the surface. 



Temperature. — Most plants will thrive in the house at a 

 temperature of from 45 to 55 degrees at night, with ten 

 or fifteen degrees higher during the day. An occasional 

 variance above or below these figures will not be injurious, 

 but you should have a thermometer on hand and try to 

 stick to the standard you set as near as you can. It is 

 more often dry air than high temperature which causes the 

 troubles commonly ascribed to the latter. You should 

 watch the temperature, however, and also avoid sudden 

 thermometer changes, as plants are subject to injury from 

 sudden checks of any sort. 



Light and Air. — While some plants thrive in the full sun- 

 light and want all they can get of it, others do better in par- 

 tial shade or when they are in the indirect light which enters 

 the eastern or western windows. You should study your 

 plants and give them locations in the room which are suit- 

 able to their particular requirements. The majority of 

 them like full sunlight, but it is as well to have a light cur- 

 tain which can be drawn across the window during the 

 middle of very bright days, as sun shining through glass 

 will injure things which it would not affect out in the open. 

 As your plants become established inside and begin to fnake 

 new growth, you will notice that they begin to get "lop- 

 sided" — that is, to grow toward the light. To keep your 

 plants shapely and to get the benefit of some of the blos- 



temperature. This is especially necessary where there is 

 any possibility of coal gas or illuminating gas getting into 

 the room in which the plants are kept. These are fatal to 

 having success with plants in the house; small quantities are 

 very insidious, as the plants will continue to live a long time, 

 but will remain in a sickly condition, with the blossoms fre- 

 quently falling off just before they open. 



Insect Pests. — Even where plants are attended to with 

 intelligence and care, the various insects injurious to them 

 will sometimes put in an appearance. If neglected, they 

 will multiply with a rapidity which is almost incredible, and 

 often succeed in a short time in working irreparable dam- 

 age. In order to fight insects successfully, there are three 

 things which you must learn. The first is to get after them 

 at once, and do not delay a day or even an hour after you 

 discover them. The second is to do the job thoroughly — do 

 not leave a single one of the enemy concealed anywhere to 

 carry on the fight. It is much better to take the time and 

 the trouble to get rid of them at once and for all time than 

 to half do the job and then have it to do over again within 

 a week or ten days; and the third is to use the remedy 

 suited to the pest you happen to be fighting. For instance, 

 it does little or no good to cover the leaves with a poisonous 

 spray for an insect that lives by sucking the juice from the 

 plant, nor, on the other hand, to try to vanquish some 

 tough-skinned individual that lives by eating the leaves by 

 going after him with a "contact poison" like kerosene emul- 

 sion, which would prove fatal to the insects which suck. 



Here are the pests most likely to trouble your plants in 

 the house and the remedies which will prove effective in 

 combating them : 



Aphids, or Green Plant Lice. — This is the enemy most 

 commonly encountered indoors. Plants that are crowded 

 or kept too dry, poor ventilation, dark corners, all furnish 

 a favorable environment to their development. The most 

 effective remedy is tobacco, which can be had in any of the 

 three following forms: Liquid solutions of nicotine, diluted 

 and sprayed on according to directions; tobacco dust, to be 

 sprinkled on the leaves; or prepared tobacco paper for 

 fumigating. The last form is the most effective where it 

 can be used, but it is not always available for use in living- 

 rooms. In such cases the diluted spray will be usually 



