10 
SUCCESS WITH FLOWERS 
* 
The following varieties of flower seeds which I list in 
my catalog make beautiful house plants, but most 
of them can be grown out of doors during the summer 
months, then taken inside at the approach of frost: 
Ageratum 
Asparagus Fern 
Cineraria 
Chrysanthemum 
Coleus 
Fuchsia 
Gloxinia 
Lantana 
Primrose 
Bird of Paradise 
Cactus 
Carnation 
Cyclamen 
Geranium 
Heliotrope 
Sinilax 
Fairy Rose 
Seeds of the above plants are usually sown in the 
house in shallow boxes which are about two inches deep, 
in light soil and in temperature of from GO to 70 
degrees. The seeds should merely be pressed into the 
soil with a board apd watered with a fine spray so 
as not to disturb the surface; they must never be 
allowed to dry out. A pane of glass should be placed 
over the box until the plants are up; raise one corner 
to admit air. As soon as 2 or 3 leaves have developed 
transplant into similar boxes or into separate pots and 
shift them into larger and larger pots, until they 
have sufficient pot room for flowering, after which 
shift them no more. 
The plants in the house require very close attention, 
they suffer as a rule from dry air, gas, dust, or drought. 
There are probably more plants killed in our homes 
through insufficient watering than through all other 
causes combined. The atmospheie in a living room 
is generally very dry and the temperature seldom 
less than Go degrees to 70 degrees; under such condi¬ 
tions a healthy plant needs water without fail at 
least once a day, but if the temperature should be 
cooler water may be given not so often, perhaps every 
other day may be sufficient; close observation alone 
can determine this. Water should never be allowed to 
stajid in the saucer, as the roots remaining in a con¬ 
stant state of saturation quickly rot. 
When gas is used in a house some of it will always 
escape unconsumed which will cause injury to all 
plant life, but when rooms are with open fireplaces 
the plants should be kept in them if possible as the 
fireplaces will serve as excellent means for ventilating 
purposes; vessels containing water placed among the 
plants will also in a measure instigate against the evil 
effects of noxious gases. 
