Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-10-24
Preparing for Window. Gardening.

Preparing for Window Gardening.
The desire to grow plants in the dwelling is
an almost universal one. Some do 1t successful
IL year after year, while with others the at
,empt ends 10 annoyance and failure. There
are many reasons for failure, but we can at pre-
sent oply speak of two of these-beginning too
late, and the selection of improper plants.
MANY put off all preparation for wlndow-gar-
denDg until cold weather has actually set In,
When they go to florists order a lot of plants,
and soon 6ud that they have plant hospital in-
stead ofa source of pleasure. The reason for this
s plain enough The florist has had his plant.
for month or two growing 10 greenhouse,
where artificial beat and a moist atmosphere
have induced tender and rapid growth.
Taking plants from such situation into the
atmosphere of an ordinary dwelling is like
bringing FIoridIan to Boston when No
member east wind is prevailing. 1t is not the
change of temperature that affects the plants
so much as the difference in light, moisture of
air, and, not the least Of all, dust. Again,
others who have plants growing 10 the open
boarders that they propose to take into the
houses, beiug naturally deslrous that the gar
den shall remain attractive as long as possible,
allow their plants to remain out uOtl the last
moment, and do not lift and pot them until the
nights become very chilly, if they do DOT leave
them until frost actually warns them that their
pets are 10 danger. To those who have
plants growing in beds, which they propose
TO bripg in the house, We would advise them
to pot a, ooce The plants will be conside-
rably disturbed at the removal; their roots
have had freedom to wander, aud gene
Of a pot without cutting back. This, of course
demands corresponding cutting back of the
top aid the plant must have time to recover
before cold weather comes. The question of
soil is often great problem. Any good, fresh
garden soil or that from beneath the sod 10 a
pasture will answer for most plants as we'll as
any of the prescribed mixtures. 1t must
be 50 open that it will not cake hard, and
not naturally porous it may be made SO by
adding clean sand. When the plant will bear
tertiziug it is better to apply it in the liquid
form than to mix manure with the soil. The
plants being potted in good fresh soil, and
properly pruned into shape, keep them in the
shade Tor a few days and then give sun grad
ualIy. They will probably be established and
have commenced pew growth before the
lights become so cool as to make it necessity
to bling them indoors. The change from open
air 10 the house must be made gradually. For
some weeks after the first frost the plants only
need shelter at night Place them in a room
whore there is no fire, and open the windows
every day until the weather becomes too cool
for it to be safe to do so. Plants SO treated
will be SO to speak, acclimated, and slight
change will not affect them: Ii plants are TO
be purchased from florist, get them before
the houses are closed and 6re-heat is used, and
gradually nure them to The house as just de-
scrbed.
As to the selection of plants, wide range Is
offered, and we will only name a few that are
quite sure to do we'll With any fair treatment.
We strvr gly advise beginuers-for whom this
article is written, experienced growers needing
10 advice-not to undertake too much, nor ex-
pect too much. A few plants with healthy
green foliage are blessing in winter, even 1t
tiere are no flowers. If we could have but
Que plant for window it would be an ivy. 1t
will grow almost everywhere; can be trained to
please the fancy, audi is always bright and
heery. Among plants for flowers, We place at
,he head of the list the Chinese primroses.
They are single and double, and from white to
deep crimson. With half chance they will
VnOm nearly all winter long; but don't get
pants that have made forced growth, or they
#Ahil. The old 'Cally Lily" (Richardia) is
another admirable plant. succeeding with the
simplest treatment. The winter Towering Be-
gouas Of the fuschioides style are to be COM
uented. The Grabs Claw Cactus" (Epiphyl-
um), Cyclamens, geraDiums, Heiotrope, Car.
narions, and Cataonian Jessamine, most make
a list quite large enough for most amateurs.
But you have not Included roses and came
las, says an ambitious amateur. These two
are very desirable, but among the most difficult
to manage, and their treatment may be spoken
u another month. Nor have We mentioned
ite bulbs, which are OF the easiest culture.
Directions for the pottiug Of these require
separate article. american Agrtcultartst.
4 New WRITING MACHINE. writing ma.
chime on trial at Washington, d. e., is thus
described: The machine is about the same size
ssan ordinary sewing machine, and can De
SOTked by child who can spell as easily as by
sroTn person. 1t consists of series OF forty
ISo keys to which are attached two steel ham
aerS, aud each once of these represents let
Ter figure or a punctuation mark. The keys
are arranged iu four rows, like the keys OF
same principle. The hammers are arranged
oa circle. aud when the key is pressed the
s0rrespouding letter moves to the centre, re-
~ong again immediately when the pressure IS
'ss99ved. A space key is provided, by means
(Which the spaces between the words are
made: Mr.. Washburne, OF San Francisco, pa
iieo'ed an Improvement on the machine, and
,Se ,e cootemplates the use of printers ink. ln
.ae ., original, the color is taken from prepared
,to0On which is between the hammer and
Ile paper. At the end of each line the ma
srlne IS adjusted for the next line by means of
aateadle, which is worked by the feet of the
Upetsa'or. TSls. By this machine three times as
nucn work can be written as an ordinary man
i II. bA NOBLE MARTYR-Leut Woodruff Of
Je VIZ, Galted States army, Corps of Engineers,
rU uled while attending the sick 10 the plague
in sAsu AZ asy city of Shreveport, fell while engaged
O)d;.,o ia; ooole duty as any ever discharged BY
jur;nrr j,er 90 the tented field" He vas engaged
E;ral Ei,,uR the summer in removing the great Red
ed ia Malt, which has for a long time obstruct-
,us"as Me navigation of that river, and refused to
be lpsuu wsn. work during the sickly season because
the waited mo the river made navigabe 10 time for
~ xl ~ u ns1