Nebraska advertiser., 1858-07-15
Farm and Garden.
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From the Journal Of Agriculture.
Management of Plants in Rooms.

Z
Management Of Plants i'm Rooms.
The management of plants in rooms is
extremely difficult. This is perhaps the
greatest reason why there are SO few
cultivated. Now what is the reason they
cannot be grown? Why, simply because
! those who love flowers, and can afford to
get onl y as many as will fill couple of
windows, are ignorant of their cultiva-
ton, and also because horticultural writ
ers do not think such a subject worth wri-
ting upon. We will now say few words
on me subject. First, it should be borne
in mind that moist air as almost is essen
tial to plants as water, and that they are
seriously injured by being forced to in
hale air that is in too dry state for them.
Plants to be healthy should be frequently
syringed in order to cleanse the leaves
from dust and also to open the Stonpata
or breathing pores; when Swinging can
not be resorted to, setting them out in the
rain will do, only taking care that it IS
not SO heavy as to break them; but by all
means let them have plenty of fresh air
when 1t IS practicable. Without suffi-
cheney of air, plants soon become weak
and sickly; their leaves will soon turn
yellow. But, if little fresh air is CIV
en- them every day when the temperature
is not too cold, they will grow nearly as
well in a room as in a greenhouse. An
other reason why Plants IN rooms arc un-
healthy is, that they are watered in a
very irregular manner; sometimes they
are allowed to be so long without water,
that the mould is so dry that it will crum-
BILE under the pressure Of the fingers, and
the spongiOles of the root are quite with
cred. This is perhaps noticed by some
one, and 1t is then thought that the plants
need water; a quantity is then given
them, cold from the pump, though they
have probably been standing in a tenn
perature of from sixty to seventy degrees;
such a process is very hurtful to plants
of even the most hardy nature, and if
delicate, they are not unfrequently killed
outright; the reverse Of this should be the
case. The plants should never become
so dry as to have the mould in a crum-
bling state; if such 4 circumstance should
occur, they ought TO be we'll watered with
water Of the same temperature Of the
room. If the pots should stand in sau-
GERS it would be well to fill the saucers
with water, in order that every part of
the roots may imbibe some benefit from
the moisture. When this has stood about
half an hour, the pot should be lifted out
and the water thrown away, as nothing
Injuries the plants so much as stagnant
water being left around them. Another
fault is, to put the plants in toolarge pots
which always has bad effect. If the soil
is good and not over watered, the plants
Will indeed grow rapidly, but will produce
leaves and branches instead of flowers.
The soil should always be in such q state
as to admit air to the roots; at the same
time, Frequently re-potting is often neces-
sary to keep the plants in a compact hab-
it of growth, and also to prevent them
from being drawn up. The way to as
certain this is, by turning the plants out
of the pot with the ball attached, and if
you find the roots on the outside of the
ball. transfer it to a larger pot, but only
one size larger than the former. BY per-
severing in this method of treatment, q
plant may be grown to a large size and
made to produce flowers in great abun.
dance.
The best soil for plants in pots is a mix.
ture Of hog earth and vegetable manure
finely puIverized. Cover the bottom ol
the pot with small pieces of broken pot.
in order to insure perfect drainage. The
roots should then be examined, and if any
parts of them are found to be diseased
they should be cut off; be sure and al
ways use a sharp knife, as dull one man.
giles or bruises them; put little earth il
the bottom over the postherds, place the
plant in the center, so that the collars o
the plant are near the rim of the pot; the
new earth is then put in and the pot slight
ly shaken to settle the earth about the
roots, and then slightly watered and Sc
aside in the shade for the rest Of the day
Plants should never be re-pottcd while il
flower. The best time IS, when they ART
growing, before the flower buds begin Z
swell. They should be allowed to re
main until the Towering season is com
pletely over. Sometimes the soil in th,
pot looks black and covered with moss
owing to an excess Of moisture or insuf
) fcient drainage. When this is the case
|. the plants should be turned out of the po
and the black and sodden earth shake
from the roots, which should be cut an
} all decayed parts removed; it should the
} be re-potted in another pot of the sam
/ or nearly the same size. Thus treated
and moderately but regularly watereC
the plant Will soon recover, and if iudic
ousIy pruned, if it has become eIongate
or drawn up, it will become handsom
: and well grown. Turn the plants to th
: light occasionally, as they are apt to gro
, somewhat crooked. +. CALVERT.