Our conservatory is small, only 
thirteen by eight feet, and last 
year we were enabled to sell 
enough -plants to pay for the coal 
and to buy a few new choice 
plants. 
Through the summer I gather 
sod and place it in a pile, mixed 
with a quantity of cow-manure, 
and leave it to rot till fall. Then 
I take garden soil, sand and the 
compost described, mix well to¬ 
gether and use for planting my 
flowers. Water them whenever 
they need it, some plants requir¬ 
ing more water than others. This 
year I have quite a collection of 
plants, consisting of Calla Lilies, 
Poinsettias, Geraniums, Helio¬ 
trope, Bouvardia, Hibiscus, Am¬ 
aryllis, Cyclamen, Album, Chi¬ 
nese Primrose, Verbenas, Abu- 
tilous, Begonias, Eoses, Santa 
Annas, Petunias, Sedum Farfu- 
gium, Othonna, Cissus Discolor, 
Cape Jessamine, Passiflora, Co- 
bea Scandens, Lophospermum, 
Smilax, Kenilworth, Parlor Ivy, 
Strawberry Vine, Ferns, Sweet 
Alyssum, Maurandia, Euphorbia, 
Carnations, Cineraria, Fuchsia, 
Cacti, Oxalis Vevualia, Wax- 
plant, etc., all of which are 
doing well, and I can safely re¬ 
commend them for window-gar¬ 
dening. 
Never let your plants become 
too dry, else they will be injured. 
Wash them at least once a week with lukewarm 
water. And never water with cold water, else it 
stops the bloom. 
Emma A. Kefsnyder. 
This plant was originally placed 
in the genus Cucumis , and is thus 
placed in Loudon’s “ Encyclo¬ 
pedia of Plants,” published in 
1836. He says: “ Its fruit is very 
insipid, but in India it is eaten 
boiled and pickled.” It is describ¬ 
ed in De Candolle’s “ Prodro- 
mus,” vol. iii., p. 
302, under the 
Design for Household Bracket. 
plants 
flight. 
Aster-Bugs. —Plaster sprinkled over the 
while wet with the dew will put them to 
It is also an efficacious remedy for the rose 
slug. 
name of Luff a amtangula. He 
says it is a native of China and 
India, and is also cultivated in 
European gardens. The name 
given by De Candolle is also given 
by Endlicher in his “ Genera of 
Plants,” and Lindley in his 
“Vegetable Kingdom.” Lind¬ 
ley remarks that it is a favorite 
pot-herb of the natives of India, 
and esteemed very wholesome. 
The name Luffa is the one ad¬ 
opted by the best modern botan¬ 
ists. It is often called Bonnet 
Gourd at the South. Not long 
since I saw some bonnets made 
of it worn by small girls of one of 
my neighbors. 
S. B. B., Austin, Tex. 
Mildew on Roses.— This is 
manifested by a whitish-looking 
mould or dust on the plants. If 
plants are growing out-of-doors, 
stir the soil frequently. If plants 
are growing in-doors, sprinkle a 
fine dusting of flour of sulphur 
over the whole plant. In general, 
sulphur will prove a good antidote to mildew. 
—---»•--- 
Hot Water will destroy aphis instantly, without 
injury to the plant, if not too hot. 
Jn> 
$13 
K 1 
