GARDENING FOR LITTLE GIRLS 



All these ferns mentioned I have seen grown 

 repeatedly, under varying conditions, in a furnace- 

 heated house as well as a steam-heated apartment ; 

 and with a reasonable amount of light, and water 

 enough to keep them thoroughly moist, I have had 

 them green and beautiful the year around. 



Palms and the popular foliage plants can be 

 grown satisfactorily with little or no sunlight. 

 The kentia palm before mentioned is one of the 

 very hardiest, and will thrive where few others will 

 grow. Both the cocoanut and date varieties can be 

 easily grown from seed, — an interesting experi- 

 ment. None of them require any particular treat- 

 ment. A place by a north or east window will suit 

 them perfectly; they will stand a temperature of 

 forty-five degrees at night; but they do require 

 plenty of water, and cleanliness of leaf. Water 

 them as the earth becomes dry, but do not leave 

 standing in half-filled jardinieres, (as people often 

 do,) as much soaking spoils the soil. A good plan 

 for plants of this class is to set them in a pail of 

 warm water and leave for a few hours or over night, 

 about once a week, and then when they become dry 

 in between times, pour water enough around the 

 roots to wet thoroughly. 



The rubber plant grows quickly compared with 

 the palm, and requires very little attention. It 



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