The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-07
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
'DinoNAL LOCAL ITEMS SEE OUTSIDE PAGES J
WINDOW GARDENING.

Last evening a goodly number OF persons as
sembled in the Horticultural Hall, the occasion
being the reading of an essay, by Robert Scott,
Esq, gentleman of large experience in the
cultivation of flowers, and a resident Of this
city. Most of the essays read before the Society
heretofore have been by gentlemen non-resi-
dents of the city, and the one delivered by Mr..
Scott which viii speak for itself, obviously
shows that our florists are ae capable OF writing
essays as well as the gentlemen from abroad.
Our readers should profit by the advice given
in the essay if they desire to succeed in the cul-
tivation OF flowers. Mr.. Scott, upon being in
troduced, said:-
Ladies and Gentlemen:-There are perhaps
few subjects connected with gardening better
deservinp our attention than the one under con-
s,deration this evening, when we consider the
almost universal love Tor flowers and the desire
10 have them, however ADVERSE tne clLcum-
stances attending their management. There
are perhaps, bat few houses in Philadelphia
which have not their pot plants IN every variety
OF style and position; some IN fancy vases and
noWer-pOts other- IN broken pitchers and tea
nots: some succeeding, but the most part falling
IN their cultivation. To force and encourage
this and to lend a helping hand in dihusing
knowledge on this subject has always seemed 70
me TO deserve more attention than IL has hitherto
received. -,
tends more to elevate man and bring into play
and cultivation of flowers. Every seed that
efulges every leaf that expands, every shoot
that developer its leaves, every flower that bursts
into bloom, awakens interest and leads from
nature up to natures God. Who ever saw the
cottage window, with its well-flled and thriving
collection of plants, that thought its inmates
were either lazy or sloYenly IN their habits 1t
was the remark OF the late b. A. Fahnestock
that whenever he saw car efully cultivated plants
in the window he put down that housekeeper
for an industrious, clean, and frugal woman, and
that he had never known one who was really
fond of flowers to be bad or dissipated in her
habits.
In treating this subject shall endeavor to be
brief and TO the point | shall try to answer q
few queries, asked me perhaps a hundred times
IN a year. The first generally is,t"How often
shall water themp What kind of soil should
put them in?" and "What temperature is best
to benefit and keep them in a thriving state?
First In watering, there are perhaps, more
blunders made than IN any other part of their
treatment, most taking 1t tor granted they
should receive water every day, besides having
the saucer or the pot set in a cup filed with
water. The consequence is, in a week or two
the soil becomes sOur, the roots perish the plant
becomcJ sckly, and finally dies off. In water
ing, no general rule can be laid down as to now
often plants should be watered. Some will want
it every day; others not for two or three days.
Some whose drainage Is bad, aud others, may
not want it more than once week.
The temperature of the room has also much
to do with the watering. Ii hot and dry some
manure should be thrown over it once day,
but never water plant that is not dry. To
know this you can easily tell by the SOIL If
dry water it thoroughly, so that the soil will
get wet to the bottom. If in a saucer empty the
water out every time you water it, as none but
water plants stand in 1t without injury.
In watering hanging baskets or vases it is
better to take them down and water them well
over with the waterlng-pot; but II very dry dip
them in a bucket until thoroughly wet through.
Let them drip before hanging up. 1t is well
also to water them, over head once, week to
clean of any dust that may get on the leaves
In watering use pure hydrant water In winter
1t is better to take the chul OFF, to add little
hot water, making the temperature about 70 or
so degrees,
Some plants are benefited by guano and other
liquid manures IN a liquid state; but it requires
considerable experience in applying them.
Geraniums, hehotrope3, mignonette and other
soft-Wooded plants may receive once week a
watering STEPPED in either COW or horse manure
two or three times before applying it. Use il
clear, as any sediment would make the pots
unsightly.
In providing soil when there are only few
pots, 1t is better to get what is wanted frOu
the nearest florists to suit the kind of plants
then repottng. But when there is a number
it will be better 10 have supply always or
hand. l find, IRON everyday experience, tina
great mistakes are made in the selection OF soil
The first generally made is by taking rich, bacl
dirt from the lots; that, mixed with stree
for window.pot plants. Now, what is taken 70
erich black dirtn is exhausted soil carted ou
from some of our city gardens to be replaced
with fresh soil from the commons, which, miXe
with street cleanings, would make it WORTHLESS
for growing anything successfully.
The nature OF plants and the food they requir
are as various as that OF animals: but all poi
plants, whatever their nature require fresh soil
To have this always at hand, have two wheel
barrow loads OF good loan, one barrow load Q
good COW or horse manure, one OF sand, and
half barrow load OF peat. This will be sut1
Cient for a mixture. You must keep them sepa
rate, in a dry place, ana mix them whe
wanted. Three parts OF loan, one part c
manure, and one of sand will suit for all sol
Wood-plants such as fucusas, Cinerarias calceC
lerias, barnardlas, mignonette, heliotrOpe, Ian
tanas, verbeuas, etc. For aZalias use all peat
For camelas and acacas use one half loan an
one half peat For daphnes, four parts loan
one OF sand and one of manure. For hanglu
baskets, ferns lyCpodiums etc, three parts pea
and one part loan. For lobeas, iVies, yincas
sa7itraga, ETC., the soil TOR soft wooded plant
will suit.
When plant wants repotting turnit caretull
out OF the pot, and see tue kind of soil it ha
been growing in. II lately from the nurser,
you will iorm pretty correct idea what kin,
OF soil II will want. In repOJtlng have the pot
perfectly clean, and few pieces of broken pot
or charcoal in the bottom to secure a GOO
drainage; one size larger pot as a rule is sui
hcent ior the shift If the branches are in
leaty condition, all that VIII be required will b
to take away the old drainage and repot. b
careful that the soil is pressed down all aroun,
1t. To secure this a thin piece Of wood is used
Sometimes, in repotting, it Is better to oyel
haul any plants that look sickly. If the caus
Is found to be insufficient drainage or the so
exhausted, 1t is better to reduce the ball, bein
careful 10 save any roots that are fresh, an
put the plant back again into the same size
pot Always water well alJer repottlng, to sc
tle the soil about the roots. In arranging the
IaaNr mn