Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-08-24
what FLOWERS viii Grow in she shade.

THE question What flowers will grow
in the shade p is put to me every Spring
by scores of city people, whose little
patch which they wish to devote to flow
eTs is so walled up by neighbOTing hOus-
es, that the direct rays Of the sun never
touch it. But few plants will develOpe
their flowers, and none will do it as well
as if it were lighted up by sunshine a
part of the day. Fuchsias, pansies, for
get-me-nOts, viOlets, lObelias, lily of the
valley, phloxes, and other herbaceOus
plants whose native habitat is shady
wood, will do best, but even these lang
uish if denied all direct sunlight. The
best effect in such situations is produced
by Ornamental-leaved plants, the beau
ty of which is not dependent upon their
flowers. Among these may be ranked
the gold and silver variegated leaved
geraniunas, achyrantes, alternautheras,
begOnias, caladiums, centaUres, &C.,
which, if planted so as to bring the vari-
GUS shades in contrast, produce q pleas
ing effect, which continues during the
entire summer months, and it is not sur
passed by any display of flowers.
The cultiVatOT of flowers in rooms
should understand the necessity of sun
light to plants that are to flower, and
endeavOr to get these as close as pOssi-
bic to a window having as eastern or
southern aspect. The higher the tenn
perature, the more plants suffer for want
of light. Many plants might remain in
temperature of 40 degrees, in a cellar
for example, away from direct light, for
months without material injury, while
if the cellar contained a furnace keep
ing temperature of 20 degrees, they
would all die such would particularly
be the case with plants of a half hardy
nature, such as monthly roses, carna-
tiOns, fuchsias, &c.
In our greenhouse cultivation Of flow
ers, direct sunlight is an all important
consideration, and a spell of sunless
weather in midWinter is often q loss to
us of hundreds of dollars, by preventing
the development of flowers. Hence, we
use every means st cOmEand to dispose
the plants to secure the greatest amount
Of light.
The debilitating effects of want of di-
rect light on plants as well ILLUSTRATED
by taking vigorous plant in full fOli-
age, that has been growing in the direct
light Of our greenhouse benches, and
placing it under the bench. If the tenn
pertnre is high-say 20 degrees, in As
hours, the sickly signs, showing want Of
light, will be apparent to an experience
ed eye, in week its condition would
be such as to indicate sickness to the
most common observer, and in a
month it would most likely be dead.
In this respect, there is some analogy
between plant and animal life, and it
teaches us the importance of light for
our own healthy development. Certain
it is that our greenhouse and garden
operatives will compare favOrably with
any other class Of WOrkmen, as far as
health is concerned. In the past twen-
ty years 1 have had an average of thir-
ty workmen daily. During that time
but one has died, and two only have
been seriously sick, and some three or
four veterans, who are growing gray in
the service, have never lost an hour
I doubt if it would be easy to find the
same number of wOrkmen employed
ont of the sunlight who could show such
health as these sun-bTOwned boys of
OuTs.-PeteT Henderson.