Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-16
written for the Cincinnati Prsss.I


II written for the Cincinnati Prsss.l
Care and ManaGement Of Plants Kept
in Rooms.
TO me Edaors Of be Daily Press'
Knowing, as / do, your every wish to
plesse, instruct and amuse your many
readers, and especially the ladies, has in
duced me to devote a few moments of my
leisure for ne benefit Of your readers and
particularly for the young floral amateur.
Flowering plants, at all seasons Of the
year, are very attractive, but such as produce
O profusion Of bloom during the dreary
months of winter, are decidedly alluring
and have attractions that are irresistible,
no matter whether viewed by the bril-.
liant and sparkling eye of the city belle, by
the beautiful country lass, by the peasant at
bis toilsome and daily avOcatiOns, or met by
the eye Of the uncouth boor, With all his
| ssperity Of manners and character; yet their
beauty and attractions are acknowledged by
| all, By proper exercise of discretion aud
skill in the selection of plants, the eye may
be feasted with choice flowers during the
| entire winter.
Chfysanthemums, If properly taken care
| of, will continue to bloom till December The
| Camelis then begins to unfold its gorgeous
| and varied beauties. The Linum Trygynum,
|
| Truncatum and many other plants that may
be selected, will enliveu the parlor till spring;
care, however, is requisite TO insure rich
| reward.
Plants kept within doors during winter
| require to be kept free from dust, as by the
| constant accumulation of dirt and other ex-
| traneous substance upon the exterior portions
of the leaves of plants, the pores become
stopped, and the free and constant inhalation
of air and moisture, so eminently essential to
the successful vegetation Of them, becomes
retarded, to the great detriment of plants.
As pure and wholesome air is decidedly in
dispensable to the health and growth of
plants, be particular to admit free aud plen-
tiful supply of it, be sure, however, that there
are no certain indications of frost; If the
weather should be cold and frosty, it must be
admitted only TO very limited extent. At
this period of the year, but few plants
are in an active state of vegetation;
and in consequence of the partial, if not
the entire suspension of their growth, they
will require but a very limited quantity Of
water. In administering water to your plants
during the present and approaching winter
season, if you are about to fall into an ex-
treme either way of giving them too much
or too little, let it be the latter; but it is
much more advisable to avoid either extreme,
and give them that quantity which reason
and observation would seem to indicate as
being required by their state and condition.
To such of your plants as are in a state of
active growth and vegetation, you should
afford the usual and accusto't I'd supply of
water, as that is one of the means by
which they are sustained and cherished
, in their growth and advancement. Plants
|, that are kept in the house can not
we'll be syripged in such location they
will therefore require TO be cleansed
} by means of washing with a soft sponge
and water, which ought to be applied
| g. NIol H. - I,,aE Nl,otE E,a
adhered to them removed. This should be
done in the early part of the day, say from
ten to twelve o'clock, allowing a sufficient
) time before night for their leaves to become
entirely dry. r.--
= Plants when the leaves are dry, are much
!, less affected by the cold than they would be
, if the cold was permitted to come in contact
: with them while dripping with water; in
' the latter situation they would be almost
certain TO be entirely killed.
If there are any tender bulbs or tuberous
: rooted plants in the garden, such as dshlias,
: tuberosey tigredis, &c, have them lifted from
1 l the ground as soon as the frost has partially
5 destroyed their foliage, dry them in the sun
ard put them away where frost can not
# reach them during the winter. All plants
s that remain in the garden during winter
v would be benefited by having small guam
: tity of litter, such as straw, stable manure OF
!. something of the kind, thrown about their
Y | IOoUS In1S enOulQ De aJtenOe0 10 curing Jnt
J. last of this or first of next month. During tht
}. present month you should have your bor
n ders, or wer.beds, put in proper order, tt
do which the ground should be dug up witt
spade, making the surface smooth with
- rake. The center of the bed should be ele-
Y vated some three or four inches higher than
!. the margin. By loosening ap the soil the
u air can penetrate the earth more easily
: which purifies and sweetens the ground.
Roses that remain In the garden should bt
3 tied neatly to stakes, to prevent the wine
70 blowing them hither and thither; it likewise
Is prevents the snow breaking them down.
y always prune my roses the last of this month
'r " cutting them in freely. Well decomposeC
ol manure put about the roots of roses in tn
e. fall facilitates their growth, and keeps then
e vigorous and healthy, which condition in
u sures rich reward the following spring @
u large and brilliant flowers
81 In concluding my communication for tn
present month, l can n0e take leave of IN
ot readers without remsrkiDg that there is n
,e other way by which plants can be reared AM
le kept in that condition calculated to afford Il
n the cultivator a store of uuceasing pleasure
)f than by constant and increasing vigilance a
es all seasons of the year, and at no portion G
IL the revolving year do they need more con
le stanI and unceasing amount of attentio
ne than they do from fall until the opening {
d. spring. THOMAS SHEREN.