26 WINDOW GARDENING. 
in perfect beauty. A very few handsome flowering vines are rauch to be prefer- 
red to spindling plants , pictures of misery, like their owners, overheated and 
crowded into close unhealthy un ventilated quarters. In our fever to provide sufli- 
cient warmth in our rooms against the cold, we stop up every crack in our win- 
dows, every crevice of our doors ; then with furnaces, grates or stoves at almost 
fever heat we get warmth enough to bid defiance to the chilling atmosphere. 
Rarely are we satisfied with a temperature in the room of less than 75°, and this 
must be constantly maintained from early morning till late at night. A draught i 
of fresh air would quicken your blood and put a little more Spirit into your coun- \ 
tenances; still you aim to avoid it. Yet for the sake of your plants do it at least 
once a day. Throw open the doors and air the room thoroughly. This can be 
done at time for meals when it is usually vacant. The windows should not bo 
opened directly upon the plants. Some other window or door away from the 
plants may be opened. It should be done also at the middle of the day when 
the outer air is mildest. 
Cleanliness. 
Here close attention is again required. Plants require regular care. They 
cannot be watered and cared for once a week and the rest of the time left to them- 
selves, but they demand a daily amount of time to be spent upon them. Every 
morning when house cleaning is in order, the plants must be watered and cleaned. 
You will see how necessary this is, if you look at the nature of the plants, how 
they live. Like our skins, the leaves of plants are perforated with hundreds of 
minute pores through which they breathe, exhaling oxygen and inhaling carbon, 
and also giving out and inhaling moisture. If these pores are filled up with dust 
the plant cannot perform these functions and its life either ceases or stands still ; 
it is not possible for it to grow or bloom. The dust of our living rooms is very 
injurious to the health of every plant. Unless it is removed, you may as well give 
up all hope of making your window favorites succeed. Frequent washing and 
watering are absolutely essential. For close handling of leaves, a soft sponge is of 
great service, for it can be used in the parlor without danger of dripping from the 
watering-pot. Wash each leaf separately and see that both sides of it are clean. 
To shower a plant turn it sideways over a tub of water or a sink ; sprinkle it 
thoroughly with the watering-pot. If the plants are too large to handle in this 
manner set the pots or tubs into a larger one and either sprinkle or syringe every 
branch and leaf. You must improvise summer showers if you would induce summer 
growth. It is not enough to water the earth in the pot. The whole plant requires it. 
Frequent waterings are the most beneficial culture that you can bestow upon your 
plants. To be sure they are not easily given and will entail upon you some work. 
When sweeping and dusting your rooms, throw newspapers or a light cloth 
over them ; this will prevent the dust from settling upon the leaves, and help 
materially toward keeping them clean. 
Whenever a warm ram falls, and the temperature stands at 50° or 55,"* set 
all the plants out of doors, and they will be greatly refreshed and strengthened. 
It does not follow, however, that the whole plant is watered by being thus placed 
