30 WINDOW OARDENINO 
" The soil itself is composed of minute particles, through which air spaces 
abound. The water must be just enough to keep these particles moist, and the 
air in the spaces is thus kept in the condition of moist air. The roots traverse 
these air spaces, and it is, therefore, moist air which roots want, and not water. 
" If it were water simply which plants wanted, we should cork up the bottom 
of the hole in the flower pot, and prevent the water getting away. Instead of 
this, we try to hasten the passing of the water through as much as possible, by 
not only keeping the hole clear, but often by putting broken pieces in the bottom 
to hasten the drainage. A plant will generally be the healthiest, therefore, which 
wants water the oftenest. If it does not want water, it is in a bad way. And 
more water will make the matter worse. 
" How often to water them, will be according to how easy the water passes 
away. If, when you pour water on earth it disappears almost instantly, it would 
be safe to water such plants every day. 
" The constant aim of the cultivator should be to keep the soil of such a con- 
sistence that a moist atmosphere shall always be present in the air spaces exist- 
ing through it. 
Moisture of the Atmosphere. 
The atmosphere of our houses, as we have intimated before, is not only too 
dry for successful plant culture, but it breeds insects of various kinds which 
will injure their growth. 
We have noticed that plants kept in kitchen windows where the air is 
charged with moist vapors from the boiling of water over the stove or range, and 
where the outside doors are frequently opened, and fresh air supplied, will 
often develop into surprising luxuriance and beauty. We can call to mind 
even now a farm kitchen in the coldest portion of our most northern states, 
where Roses, Carnations and Verbenas, grow finely, and are covered with a sum- 
mery profusion of buds and flowers. These are usually the most difiBcuU plants 
<o bring into bloom in parlor windows, because they are apt to be so infested 
with minute red spiders, and the green aphis, scale or mealy bug. 
It is the moisture in the air which tends to restrain and drive away such dis- 
agreeable intruders. The heated air of the house can be kept moist by placing an 
evaporatmg pan upon or in our furnaces, and over our stoves we can place a 
large fire-proof dish that must be daily filled with water. 
If the surfaces of the soil in pots is covered with moss, it retards the evapo- 
ration of water; this practice is generally advisable only for those plants which 
require much water, such as Calla Lilies, Fuchsias, Camellias, &c. Pots that are 
imbedded in moss are always kept moist, and if a table is constructed just the 
height of the window, with a rim fastened around each side three inches in 
depth, and the whole lined with zinc, the pots can be set in it, and the moss 
stuffed in on all sides. When watering is needed, set it back from the window 
/and sprinkle with a fine watering pot. 
The Soil. 
The oiost easily available material for a compost by the ordinary gardener, will 
