396 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



December, 1906 



FREE 



Write for this 10c. can of Johnson's Prepared 

 Wax and Try it on Your Furniture 



We want everyone to know that Johnson's Prepared Wax is the finest preparation in the 

 world for cleaning, preserving and polishing furniture, and we will therefore send, upon request, 

 a ioc. can to prove our claim. Send us your name with two 2-cent stamps for partial postage 

 and we will forward the can free. Write to-day. 



You apply Johnson's Prepared Wax with cloth to any finished wood and rub to a polish 

 with dry cloth. It cleans, preserves and polishes the wood in one operation. 



Our new 48-page illustrated book, "Proper Treatment for Floors, Woodwork and Furni- 

 ture," which we send Free with our sample of wax, will tell you how to easily keep your furni- 

 ture and all wood in beautiful condition. This is our regular 25 cent edition printed in six colors. 



Johnson's Prepared Wax 



" Jl Complete Finish and 'Polish for all Wood " 



For Furniture, Woodwork and Floors 



It produces a beautiful, lasting and sanitary finish and polish to which dirt and dust will 

 not adhere. It will not show scratches, blister, peel off or crack. Fine for linoleum, oilcloth 

 and 1. < r. Johnson's Prepared Wax is sold by all dealers in paint — 10 and 25 cent packages 

 and lai ^ r size cans. 



Write to-day for sample can and book. It will pay you. Mention FREE Offer AH 12. 



S. C. Johnson & Son, Racine, Wis. 



"'TT/ie Wood- Finishing Jlulhorilies" 



BOOKS 



wiliililJll 



Relating to Architecture, 

 Decoration, Ceramics, Rugs, 

 Furniture, etc., will be rec- 

 ommended and supplied by 

 our well-equipped 

 Book Department 



Munn (§b Co. 



36 1 Broadway, New York 





MANTELS 



That Mean Something 



A good mantel is the most decorative 

 thing to a room. It is not to be 

 changed and moved about — you can- 

 not be too particular in your first 

 choice. Study this mantel with its 

 simple yet rich tile effect — it means 

 something. 



Hartford mantels are all artistic and 

 mean something. Better send for 

 catalog M. 



ARCHITECTURAL FAIENCE 

 FAIENCE TILE AND MANTELS 



Hartford Faience Company, Hartford, Conn. 



DECEMBER IN THE WINDOW 

 GARDEN 



By Eben E. Rexford 



SUCH plants as have completed their work 

 for the season, like the chrysanthemum, 

 and the fuchsia, should go into cold stor- 

 age for winter. If the cellar is cool and dry, 

 and a portion of it can be made dark, it is the 

 place for them. The aim should be to keep 

 the plants dormant. If heat, moisture and 

 light are given, they will keep on growing, and 

 the result, next season, will be a plant that is 

 lacking in vital force. 



Before putting chrysanthemums away, cut 

 off all the top ; no portion of this will be of 

 benefit, hereafter, as the growth for next sea- 

 son will all come from the sprouts sent up 

 from the roots, in spring. Do not cut back 

 fuchsias now, as most of the new growth of 

 another year will consist of branches sent out 

 along the old stalks. 



Water these, and other plants of similar 

 habit, when they go into the cellar, but give 

 none thereafter, unless they seem to be getting 

 very dry at the roots. It does not matter if 

 they lose their foliage. This is what decidu- 

 ous plants do in the open ground and we are 

 trying to imitate natural conditions, as far 

 as possible. 



Tuberous begonias, gloxinias, and achi- 

 menes, are most safely wintered by drying off 

 the roots in the pots they grow in during sum- 

 mer. Withhold water until their foliage ripens 

 and falls off. Then set the pots away with- 

 out disturbing the roots in any way. Keep 

 them away from frost. Give no water. It 

 does not matter if the soil becomes as dry as 

 dust. The tubers will remain plump and firm, 

 and be much less likely to decay than would 

 be the case if they were taken out of the soil 

 and stored away in boxes or drawers. Those 

 kept out of the soil generally dry up and wilt, 

 if they do not rot. 



Most window-gardens are injured by trying 

 to grow too many plants in them. Grow only 

 as many as you can give ample room. A few 

 plants, well developed, will afford vastly more 

 pleasure than a large number of inferior ones. 

 And a few plants, so disposed that they can 

 display themselves effectively, on all sides, will 

 always attract the attention of plant-loving 

 visitors. 



Geraniums will be coming into flower this 

 month, if given proper care. They should be 

 kept on the dry side. Too much moisture will 

 induce souring of the soil, and that means, 

 later on, diseased roots. Give them plenty 

 of light. Turn at least once a week, to pre- 

 vent them from becoming one-sided by being 

 drawn toward the glass. If any branches 

 seem inclined to get the start of others, nip off 

 the ends promptly. It will be necessary to 

 do this from time to time, if you would keep 

 your plants shapely and symmetrical. 



As the growth of your geraniums increases, 

 give frequent applications of some good fer- 

 tilizer. Do not overdo matters and give 

 enough to force a rapid, weak growth. If 

 your plants are sturdy and vigorous, be con- 

 tent with that. There is sure to be a reaction 

 from a forced development. 



If the leaves of any of your plants turn 

 brown at the edges, or show yellow spots on 

 their surface, and, after a little, become dry, 

 and crumble readily under the hand, you may 

 suspect the presence of a fungoid disease. In- 

 sects will not affect plants in this manner. 

 Some plants, like the ivy-leaved geranium, will 

 show marks on the under surface of the foliage 

 that looks as if an insect had eaten into them, 

 and left a scar. This is simply one phase of 

 fungus effect. The remedy for the trouble is 

 Bordeaux mixture. This fungicide can be 

 prepared at home, or it can be bought in cans 

 or jars, of seedsmen, ready for use by diluting 



