San Andreas independent., 1856-12-06

Heinrich Meyer one Of the royal preachers.
PLANTs.-In the culture Of plants in
pots, or vessels, we must follow plan con-
trary to the natural state, and our success
will depend upon the means we employ
The first and most important is the COM
position of the soil to insure healthy and
vigorous growth during the summer sea-
son-the second by adopting due precau-
ton during the dormant state of the plant,
or winter season.
In the natural state, every plant or tree
is free, and capable of seeking or choosing
its required and proper nutriment, and de-
posting the secretion; and as the spongi-
ole or end root constantly advances, the
latter never becomes contaminated with
the former. In pots or vessels, it is far
different The plant has only a limited
portion or bulk Of earth, and is compelled
to live on such matter as is found in it
To arrive at the desired end, it is necessary
to know the nature Of our plants and sup
ply them with proper wants Plants of
vigorous, quick growth, and strong, heshy
roots, as geraniums, verbenas, petunias,
fuchias, dahlias, etc., require rich soil
Well decayed COW manure, and leaf mold,
mixed with good garden earth are the best
Plants Of more fine, thin, fbrous roots, as
azaleas, ericas, rhododendrous, etc., will
best grow in sandy soil, mixed with we'll
decayed wood Particular care must be
taken to heve the soil in such state as
will admit constant circulation of the air.
It ought not to be sifted; and to secure
good drainage. the bottom Of the pot or
vessel ought to be covered to about two or
three inches thick with broken potherbs.
Twice or three times shifting during the
summer season is necessary. The plant
grown in pots is compelled to deposit its
own excretions on the same place, whence
it derives its nutriment, the former being
contaminated with the latter. It from
this cause becomes unhealthy, as seen by
its yellow, sickly appearance By reno
wing the old soil and supplying a new one,
this can be obviated
Mostly all plants and trees require a
certain time or period Of rest, and such
as we grow in pots must be checked in
growth at the end of October or middle of
November, by ceasing for week or ten
days watering them. Oleanders, myrtles,
viburnum, pomegranates, hydrangea, etc.,
can be kept during the whole winter in
frost-free cellars by letting on warm days,
free admission Of free air, without any
watering at all. Soft wooded plants that
will retain the leaves, as geraniums, verbe-
mas, petunias, lantanas, salvias, etc., can
be kept in rooms close to the windows, as
far as possible from fire, tastefully arranged
IN fower-stands, made of cast iron, or
wood, the bottom water-tight, so as to hold
three or four inches of water. The pots
must be SO elevated as to stand perfectly
free free from the water and tray-the
water in the flower-stand will absorb GER
tain portion of carbonic acid gas of our
breathing, and by changing the tempera-
ture of the room Gin the parlor, where fire
is used only during the day time, is the
best), will again evaporate and be absorbed
through the leaves Of the plants, keeping
them, by very little watering, (say once
week., alive during the whole winter
By this method we can not only cultivate
very easy our plants, but the rooms will
present a constant cheerful appearance,
and be made healthier to ourselves, as the
plants will absorb the greatest part of the
noxious gases of our breath, and make the
ventilation partly unnecessary.
Eg BLESSED is she who Las a mothers
care. a fathers house, and brothers af.