41 



AND GREENHOUSE. 



AZALEAS, CAMELLIAS, DAPHNES. 



Among the large list of beautiful house plants 

 none are more prized and stand in higher favor 

 than the above-named genera. Although with 

 proper management and some care no class or 

 classes of plants grow and flower easier under 

 cultivation, amateurs meet often with disap- 

 pointments and failure, and abandon their cul- 

 tivation, supposing some hidden mystery to be 

 connected with their successful culture. 



Proper jsoil is of the first importance, and it 

 is hopeless to expect success without this indis- 

 pensable requisite. As a basis there is nothing 

 better than thoroughly-decayed leaf mould, 

 such as is found in woods under Maples, Beeches 

 or Oaks, if in a flaky condition with parts of 

 leaves still visible all the better. To two parts 

 of this add one part of loamy soil from an old 

 pasture or fence row immediately below the 

 sod, where the substrata are free from lime, 

 and one part of sharp sand from a 

 pit, fresh-water beach or road-wash- 

 ings, and mix all thoroughly together. 



Once a year the plants should be 

 repotted and the soil renewed. The 

 present month is a favorable season 

 for transplanting. Use only clean 

 pots and not bigger than two sizes 

 larger than those from which the 

 plants are removed. Place a large 

 piece of potsherd, with the concave 

 side downwards over the hole in the 

 bottom, and then fill the pot about 

 one-third witli smaller pieces. Cover 

 these lightly with moss, then place the 

 plant in the middle of the pot, so that 

 the top of the soil is from one-half to 

 one inch below the rim, fill around 

 the ball and pack very firmly with the 

 hand, or better with a blunt piece of 

 wood. When finished, water thor- 

 oughly and place in a partially shaded 

 position for a few days. Afterwards 

 give water only when the soil appears 

 dry, and then sufficiently to wet the 

 whole. 



When plants are in an unhealthy 

 condition, or when it is not desirable 

 to use. larger pots, the old exhausted soil can 

 easily be washed away from the roots and the 

 plants replaced with fresh soil in the same or 

 even smaller pots. 



Towards the first of April in the South, and 

 the second week in May north of New York 

 the plants should be placed out of doors in a 

 partially shaded position, with a northerly or 

 northeasterly aspect, if possible. The pots 

 should be plunged in the ground up to the 

 rims, after having previously dug holes a few 

 inches deeper and larger than the pots, and fill- 

 ing them with coal ashes or coarse sand to pre- 

 vent worms from burrowing among the roots. 

 In dry weather sprinkle the foliage frequently 

 and be careful to keep the entire soil moist at all 

 times. The cause of nearly all the complaints 

 about Camellia buds dropping off in winter 

 and Azaleas refusing to expand their flowers 

 can be traced to this omission and the fact that 

 the plants have been frequently dry during the 

 previous summer. 



In the fall when nights become chilly the 

 plants must be removed to shelter, but not 

 where they are subjected to a dry or higher tem- 



perature than 55 degrees, and for the first six 

 weeks a temperature of 45 degrees would be 

 even preferable, after which they will bear a 

 somewhat higher temperature. 



Insects, especially red spiders and scale in- 

 sects, become sometimes troublesome to these 

 plants. The spiders are minute little animals 

 which lodge generally on the under side of the 

 leaves, causing them, if not checked, to turn 

 gray and afterwards yellow. An occasional 

 washing with strong soap water and frequent 

 syringings with cold water will cure and pre- 

 vent their ravages. The scale insects are more 

 troublesome, as they stick firmly to the stem 

 and have to be removed by force with a small 

 stick, or better with a tooth brush and good, 

 strong, warm soap suds, repeating the opera- 

 tion from time to time until clean. The mealy 

 bugs, which look like [a film of white cotton, 

 may also become troublesome. They can be 

 removed with a feather and kept off by fre- 

 quent washings and syringings. 



After the plants have become established and 

 the pots filled with roots some stimulating fer- 

 tilizer may be given. As such nothing is safer 



A WINDOW GARDEN. 



and better than a solution of one ounce of Pe- 

 ruvian guano in three gallons of water, applied 

 once or twice a week. But fertilizers should not 

 be used immediately after potting, or at the 

 removal to winter quarters. 



By studying the conditions of the plants and 

 following carefully the directions here given no 

 one need apprehend failure with either Azaleas, 

 Camellias or Daphnes. John Thorpe. 



WHAT PLANTS TO GROW IN THE HOUSE, 



Most amateur florists undertake too much. 

 They would like a large collection and they 

 want choice kinds like those they see in con- 

 servatories belonging to wealthy people. 



After several years of experience I have come 

 to the conclusion that we have but a compara- 

 tively small list of plants which it is advisable 

 for the amateur to select from for ordinary 

 window culture. As he or she gains experience 

 and becomes familiar with the requirements of 

 the plants under his or her care, it will do to 

 "branch out." Plants which they /would have 

 failed with at the beginning, they may succeed 

 with later. It is better in this, as in most other 



undertakings, to go slowly. Learn how to 

 take care of a few less particular plants before 

 you undertake to care for some which require 

 more careful treatment. 



Let us suppose that you have but one win- 

 dow in which to grow plants ; you want flower- 

 ing kinds for the most part, and you cannot 

 have more than a dozen in all unless your win- 

 dow is a large, one, for it is far more satisfac- 

 tory to have a few plants with room for devel- 

 opment than a large number crowded together 

 until all individuality is lost in a confused 

 mass of foliage. Shall I select for you ? Well, 

 my first choice is the 



GERANIUM, 



because it is one of the most easily cared for 

 plants that we have, and it is one of the most 

 free flowering, and its foliage is always bright 

 and vigorous. There are other plants that I 

 prefer to the Geranium, but under the supposed 

 circumstances none that I would unhesitatingly 

 recommend. It is sure to do well if not shame- 

 fully neglected. It is the flower for the million. 

 The particular varieties I would leave you to 

 select for yourself. I think I would first choose 

 i scarlet, The variety called " Her- 

 "d of Spring" is my favorite among 

 e scarlets. But there are dozens of 

 hers which you might consider 

 [ually as fine, possibly liner ; and 

 here there are so many to select from 

 is not of much use to name one par- 

 jular variety. I would select the 

 ngle Geraniums for winter culture 

 ■cause the double varieties do not 

 oom freely beyond November. To 

 y mind the single ones are handsom- 

 t. If you want a pink variety, one 

 iat is almost always in bloom, you 

 m do no better than take "Master 

 hristine." It is a beautiful, soft 

 >se color, marked white, and blooms 

 .•ofusely. You can suit your taste 

 about color, for we have Geraniums 

 in all shades of scarlet and crimson, 

 pink, salmon, magenta and white. 

 The ••nosegay" or Dwarf Geraniums 

 are better for small collections than 

 r growers, for, while the plant is 

 dwarfish, the flowers are as large and 

 profuse as those on the robust kinds. 

 Of course you want a Rose Geranium. 

 No collection is complete without it, 



HELIOTROI'IC. 



This favorite flower will bloom all through the 

 winter, and though not showy, its fragrance 

 and its modest beauty make it a general favor- 

 ite. It likes a warm sunny place. You want a 



CALL A. 



It would be well worth cultivating if it did not 

 bloom, because of its large, fine leaves, borne 

 on stalks from a foot and a half to three feet 

 high, giving the plant a tropical appearance. 

 When we add to the attractive, foliage its large, 

 trumpet-shaped white flowers, with their de- 

 lightful fragrance, we have one of the finest 



large amount of water and the pot should 

 stand in a deep saucer which is never allowed 

 to get empty. Let the water given it be as 

 warm as you can bear on your hand. 



For an additional list, I would name Carna- 

 tion, Abutilon, Begonia. Chrysanthemum, Cy- 

 clamen, Ewpatorium, Petunia, Chinese Prim- 

 rose, Oxalis, Lantana&ud for training about 

 the window, Ivy, Cobea and Smila.v. 



E. B. Rexford in Farm Library. 



