Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-12-22
lQlurtcstcr 9alIp Spp.
HOUSE PLANTS.

DECEMDER.-As now is the trying season
for all plants that are kept in rooms, especial
BY those that are desired to have fl0urishing
appearance during the winter, few general
instructions although they have been previ-
ously advanced will perhaps, be desirable to
all those who are engaged in this interesting
occupation, which forms luxury through the
retired hours Of winter season, and with very
little attention, many are the beauties of vege-
tatve nature that will be developed to the
qualification of every rejecting mind The
following is a routine of every day culture:
DO not at any time admit air Except for
few moments,l while the thermometer is be-
low 35 deg, exposed in the shade.
In time Of very severe frosts, the plants
ought to be withdrawn from the window to
the centre of the room during the night.
Never give water until the soil is inclining to
become dry, except fer hyacinths and other
Dutch bulbs that are in growing state, which
must be literally supplied.
Destroy all insects as soon as they appear.
Give little air every favorable opportunity,
THAT is where the thermometer is above 35
deg, exposedin the shade,) by putting up the
window one, two, or three inches, according to
the state of the weather.
Clean the foliage with sponge, and water
frequently, to remove all dust, &c. The wa
ter thus used must not exceed so deg, but 60
deg. is preferable.
Turn the plants frequently, but prevent
them from growing to one side.
Roses Of the daily sort, may be obtained ear
ly by having them in a warm room that has
south window, and as soon as they begin to
grow, admit air in small portions about once
every day that the sun has any effect. Such
must be well supplied with water.
Bulbs in glasses must be supplied with fresh
rnNrr NJ To- l. 1 l
they will inhale all the nutritive gas that they
derive from that element if they are in a grow
ing state.
Camellias, when in bud and flower, should
never be allowed to become the least dry,
neither confined from fresh air. The effects
would be that the bud would become stinted,
dry, and drop Off Therefore, to have these in
perfection, attend strictly to watering Give
frequent airing, and wash the leaves OCCASION
ally with water. Never keep them in a room
where there is strong coal fire. The most of
camelas will bear three degrees of frost with
out the smallest injury, so that they are easier
kept than geraniums, except when they are in
bloom. In that state, frost will destroy their
flowers The air Of a close cellar is also de-
structiye for the buds. The reason that the
camelia does not bloom perfectly in parlors or
other heated rooms is owing to their being too
warm and arid, destroying the vital vegetative
principle Of the plant and it soon perishes.
There is one way in which these plants can
be kept perfect, even in dry places, when the
recess in the windows is of sufficient depth as
to allow plants to stand within it, enclosing
them from the apartment by another sash: in
such a situation water could be placed, which
would keep the atmosphere between the win
dows perfectly moist The verdure would be
rich and the flowers brilliant and they would
be completely protected from dust-the whole
would have very pleasing effect Attention
will be requisite to give them air during the
mild part Of the day. There are several ca
mellias not proper for room culture; those which
have dry, brown, scaly buds are to be avoid
ed, such as dnemOne t'orG edgertonid cleUina, fh-
ge'S, afro rubenS; also avoid Uoodsii, chaudleii,
and d0rsetia, as being difficult of expanding
they are so very full of petals Those most
proper for room culture are double chjte, conchii
fora, eclipse, Jimbrdta, forinda, imbricata, mall
foCa, p@aJfora, punctuia, coriHi, roSi, speciosa,
UGrjegdta and incdrRdta
Such will be found to bloom freely and full
ly; many others might be added, but these
will give an idea of those sorts that agree best
with warm culture.
We cannot conclude our subject without
giving our readers some hints on the effects of
plants in household apartments 1t has been
proved that the leaves of plants absorb carbon
le acld gas by thelr upper surfaces, and give
out oxygen by their under ones, thereby tend
ing to purify the air in as far as animal life is
concerned, because carbonic acid gas is PERM
cious to animals, and oxygen is what life re-
quires. 1t is in the light, however, that these
operations are carried on, for in the dark, plants
give out carbonic acid.
1t does not appear that any of the scentless
products given out by plants are injurious to
human beings, because those who live among
accumulated plants are not less healthy than
others, but rather enjoy more uninterrupted
health which, of itself, is sufficient recon-
mendation for all to spend their leisure mo-
ments in so healthful and rational an employ
ment.- Working Farmer,