BOTANICAL INDEX 
32 
to grow them, for if you 
are not successful in cul- 
tivating them in a short 
time there will not be 
much pleasure and beau- 
ty in them. One of the 
fi rst troubles met with is 
the dust that will gather 
on their leaves, and to 
guard against it a good 
plan is to spread over the 
plants, while sweeping, 
large newspaper, which 
is preferable to cloth as 
it does not allow the fine 
dust to sift through. 
However, after all our 
precaution, dust will 
gather, and once a week 
the plants that can be 
handled should be tho- 
roughly drenched in the 
sink or bath tub with 
warm water ; some plants 
are too large to handle, 
and on them each leaf 
should be washed with 
warm, weak soap-suds, 
using a soft sponge and 
afterwards washing a- 
gain with clear warm 
water. Fresh air must 
always be given when 
the weather will permit, 
at least during the mid- 
dle of the day; and sun- 
shine is just as necessary 
during the winter for healthy plants as it is for man, especially if we expect them to 
bloom; however, after the flowers have opened they should not be exposed to the 
direct rays of the sun, as the moisture would soon be absorbed and the flower fade. 
Begonias, Ferns, etc., will not stand the hot sun in summer, but require it during 
winter, at least a portion of the time. Watering plants is a very important duty, 
but very imperfectly understood. 
In the first place, Aloes and Sta- 
pelias want absolutely no water in 
winter, unless in bloom, and then 
very little. Cactus, and other 
succulents, unless in bloom, as 
well as Oleanders, Pomegranates, 
Figs, Crape Myrtle, etc., that are 
in the cellar, dormant, want very 
little water, for very much water 
would kill the small fibrous roots, 
and if the plant should survive it 
will not bloom during the follow- 
ing summer. Ordinary house 
plants, however, require more 
moisture, but no rule can be given 
that will answer as a guide for all 
kinds of weather and conditions. 
For instance, if the room is heated 
by a furnace or base burner stove, 
the air in the room is so hot and 
dry that in a very short time all 
the moisture is absorbed, while an ordinary wood stove does not dry out a pot of 
earth for two or three days. The best mode of watering is once a week to lay the 
plant on its side in a sink or bath tub, and thoroughly shower it both on the upper 
and under surface of the foliage, at the same time completely saturating the pot of 
earth. Water should never be allowed to stand in the saucers, but must be immedi- 
