HOUSE PLANTS. 
95 
ringing sound in reply is a cry for water, while a dull, 
heavy sound indicates that the plant is not thirsty. 
A thorough watering in which the hall is completely 
soaked is the only beneficial one, as a slight wetting of the 
top earth does little or no good. Most plants in winter 
do not require watering more than two or three times a 
week (while in summer they need it daily), but this, as 
stated before, depends in a great measure on the nature 
of the plant and the condition of the atmosphere. Plants 
in bud or blossom also require more frequent watering 
than those in a state of comparative rest. 
Cold water should never be used, unless the plant is 
frozen, whep it will be found the best of restoratives ; tepid 
water, which is about the temperature of the atmosphere, 
being best even in summer, and it should be applied in as 
fine a spray as possible, a fine shower being more like nature 
than a steady pour. Once a week the leaves of all house 
plants should have a thorough washing, and an atomizer 
will be found excellent for this purpose. The proper time 
of day for watering is whenever the plants need it, but it 
should not be done when the sun is shining on them. 
Liquid manures should be used with great care, but, 
when judiciously applied, they are valuable aids in cultiva¬ 
tion. The solution of parings of horses’ hoofs, mentioned 
on page 19, is a particularly valuable one, but, as this can 
not always be obtained, others will be found to answer the 
purpose very well: about a teaspoonful of guano in a quart 
of water, used only as the plant requires watering; weak 
glue-water and liquid ammonia are also good—ten drops of 
the latter to a quart of water. 
An old cultivator recommends, as a compost for pot 
plants, one third leaf mold, one third rich loam, one third 
river sand ; mix these materials well together, and to every 
bushel or thereabouts (for there is no need of special care), 
about a shovelful of lime, ashes, or gypsum. “ The earth 
9 
