Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-10-16
Preparing for windew Gardening.

The desire to grow plants in the dwelling Is
an almost universal one. Some do IL success
fully year after year, while with others the at
tempt ends in annoyance and failure. There
are many reasons for failure, but we can at the
present only speak OF two OF tkese-bcg inning
too late. and the selection Of improper plants
Msny put OF sll preparation for window gar
dening until cold weather has actually set in,
when they 20 to a florists order a lot OF plants,
and soon hnd that they have a plant hospital
instead Of source OF pleasure. The reason for
this Is plain enough. The florist has had Is
plants ior a month or two growing in green
house, where artificial heat and a moist atmos-
phere have induced 4 tender and rapid growth.
Taking plants from such a situation into the
stmosl mere OF an ordinary dwelling rs like
Der east wind Is prev ailing. 1t is not the change
OF temperature that affects the plants 50 much
a. the difference in light, moisture of air and
not the least of all, dust. Again, others who
have plsnts growing In the open borders that
they propose TO take into the houses, being nat
ufally desirous that the garden shall remain at
trsctive as long As possible, allow their plants
to remain cut until the last moment, and do not
lit and pot them until the nights become very
chilly, II they do not leave them until frost ac-
tuslly warns them that their pets are IN danger
To those who have plants growing in beds
which they propose TO bring into the house W.
would advise them to pot 81 once. The \ ian
will be considerably disturbed at the removal;
their roots have had freedom 20 wander, aud
generally can not be brought within the COM
pass Of a pot without cutting back. This, OF
course, demands a corresponding cutting back
of the top; and the plant must have time 70
recover hciOfe colu weather comes. The lHs-
ton of soil IL often g great problem. ANY good
fresh garden soil OF that from beneath the sol
in pasture will answer for most plants as wei.
as any of the prescribed mixtures. Il must b
20 open that Il will rot cake hard, and Il no
naturally porous il may he made - by adding
clean sand. When the plant will bear rerti.:z-
ING IT il better 10 apply il ia the liquid form
than 10 mix manure with the soil The plants
being potted IN good fresh soil and properly
pruned into shape, keep them in the shade for
few days and then give sun gradually. They
Wi lU he al hHA ar,.s H.,
menced a new growth before the nights become
so cool as to make IL necessary to bring them
indoors. The change from open air TO the
house must be made gradually. For some
weeks after the frst frost the plants only need
shelter at night. Place them in a room where
there is no fire, and open the windows every
day until the weather becomes too cool for il TO
be safe TO do 80. Plants so treated will be, So
TO speak, acclimated, land a slight change will
lot AFFECT them. If plants are 10 be purchased
from florist get them before the houses are
closed and fire heat is used. and gradually inure
them TO the house as just described.
AS TO the selection of plants, = WIDE range is
offered, and We Will only name few that are
quite sure TO do well with any fair treatment
We strongly advise beginners-for whom this
article IL written, experienced growers needing
no advice-nOt TO undertake too much nor ef-
pect too much. A few plants with healthy
green foliage are blessing in winter, even IL
there are no flowers. If we could have but one
plant Tor window it would be an Ivy. IL will
grow almost everywhere; can be trained 70
please the fancy, and is always bright and
CHEEKY. Among plants for flowers, we place at
the head of the list the Chinese Primroses. They
are single and double, and from white 20 deep
crimson. With half a chance they will bloom
nearly all winter long; but don't get plants
that have made a forced growth. or they will
fail The old " Cally Lily" (RichdrHia) is an
other admirable plant succeeding with the sim
plest treatment. The winter Towering BegO-
MAS OF the tuSchioides style are to be commend
ed. The 'Crab's Claw Cactus (EuiplgllHra),
Cyclamens, Gersuiums, HeliotrOpe, Carnations
and Catalonian Jessamine would make a list
quite large enough for most amateurs. " But
you have not included Roses and CameIlias,"
says an ambitious amateur. These two are
very desirable but among the most difficult to
manage, and their treatment may be spoken OF
another month. Nor have We mentioned the
bulbs, which are of the easiest culture. Direc-
hons for the pOtting of these require a separate
article.-AmsFrcdH AgriculturiSf.