The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-02-11
HOUSE PLANTS wENT EHs.

Last week, we spoke Of several things es-
sential to plant life,-as water, air. light heat,
cleanliness, &C. The utility of water, the proper
amount and way Of applying it, both to the
roots and foliage We're then spoken Of Let
d. now consider some Of the other conditions
A} plants must cat as we'll as drink This
is ee c.ed through their leaves, hence the i'm
p5l.auce of frequently washing their foliage,
~ recommended last week, aud by their roots.
To be nice, and to give the fullest perfection,
every variety of plants, like animals requires
iferenL kinds Of food, each after It's kind, as
tlcAsias, being swamp plants, require peat;
eerbenas, the child of sandy regions, must have
sand; vet all house and garden plants will do
well on a compost of one fourth each Of fine
sand good garden mould, well rotted barn ma
nure. and decayed leaf mould. This should be
prepared, if possible, year before using, and
kept il i barn cellar or other cool, moist place.
Light and heat. These are vital conditions
of plant life or the former you cannot have
100 much. Merely ditused light is of no avail
without full sun light directly upon them, more
OF less of the time, they are feeble and worth
ess Heat IS equally essential, bat OF this you
can have too much. The dry, hot air from
close stoves gives at best but 8 Struggling
sicky growth. They will thrive best at tenn
parature where animals would be only comfort
ably warm. And the heat from furnaces, though
proper in quantity, is often fatal In quality to
both plant and animal life, when the warming
apparatus permits, as it frequently does, the
escape Of noxious gases into the rooms.
Plants like people have their enemies; both
t they try to make proper use of themselves,
so as to be of any account in the world,-are
afflicted with hordes of parasites which suck
lu. their life blood. They,-the drones, loaf
e7s and all who prey upon the social body,
wait their turn in some future number; now
w9 speak of plant rermir.
These soon destroy the plants they nfest-
How They are SO many bloodsucbers. Each
has an apparatus by which it bores into the
sap vessels. and pumps out the life juices;
causing the sickness ana death Of pants by
starvation. Various methods Of Kidding plants
of these insects are recommended; some, to
pick them of; this is useless some, 10 wash
them in soapsuds, camphor, aloes water. car
0olic acid &c, We have found after trying
many things, tobacco smoke to be an easy, safe
and efficient remedy. For small plants, such
as yerDenas-and no plants much infest-
el by insecCs-our plan is this Of any cheap
sticks, like laths, make a thing resembling
cane bottomed chair, about as high, and of
size to slip in and out Of 4 barrel; put some live
Goals into an iron vessel and place it in the bar
rel throw upon the Goals handful Of Old, dry
tobacco, or remnants Of cigars put in the
frame, upon which set the pots, and cover well
with cloths or a board. Give them in this way
smart smoking for fifteen minutes, occasion
al!v raising the cover TO admit air; afterwards
syringe, -or otherwise wash them with Slightly
warm water For plants too large for barrel,
some large box, or L cloth thrown over them
sJ retain the smoke, will answer well. All this
is done in less time than it takes to describe it,
ind will require repeating every month But
plants are not only living, but grateful beings,
and will thank you for it.
Another, and still more troublesome enemy,
5 worms in the earth at the roots. Tilton's
Journal OF Horticulture for Jan. 1869, has this
recommendation, with which we have had no
experience, but think it may be good The
worms in the pots may be destroyed by stop
ping up the holes IN the pots with Corks, and
watering with lIme-water until it stands on the
surface. The line-water may remain for an
hour, then, Oh removing the cork, it viii pass
II. The imewater may be made by pouring
so galIous of water over 10 lbs. of fresh lime
Stir up well, and allow the whole to stand two
or three days; then employ the clear liquor"
House plants-their effect on human health,
will BE- considered next week.