Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-10-15
The winter Garden.

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group of stunted, sickly plants; but there
are few persons in the world who are not
charmed even with a small collection of
healthy plants tastefully arranged. There
is pleasure, too, in having these plants as
much as possible the work of our own
skill-grown from seeds or cuttings or
trained by our own hands. We shall en-
deavor TO give few suggestions that we
hope will be useful, and make the road to
success somewhat easy. We do not pro
pose to instruct those who have greenhous-
es and gardeners, rs we have felt that our
mission was a more humble, and yet, we
think a more glorious one-to create love
of flowers among the millions-those who
have but little time and means 10 devote TO
this work. If successful in this, we shall
feel that we have not lived and labored in
vain. Thousands of persons purchase Wig
orous, beautiful plants from the green
house every year, and are panied 10 see
them gradually and surely lose all trace Of
beauty, and finally die. How can we pre-
vent ihisP Plants, like ourselves, need
air, light, warmth, food and moisture,
and must have all these in sufficient guam
titles, or they will suffer and finally die.
Food.-Where good earth is used for pot
ting, plants seldom need any special ma
nure. The best soil for plants is found in
old meadows, the corners of fences, &C.,
where sod has grown long time. a pile
of sod laid up to rot makes excellent pot
ting earth, and if taken from what we call
here a chestnut soil, that is, with good
deal of sand, nothing can be better Ma
ny persons think if they can get little
black muck from swamp they have the
perfection of potting soil, while it is the
poorest that can be procured. About
tablespoonful of guano in pail of water
makes a good fertilizing material, but
mur. be used cautiously, and is not often
needed.
Water.-Keep the earth moderately
moist, about as it is observed in the garden
in what we call growing time.
Hedt.-Most Of our plants are injured by
too much heat. For general collection of
house plants, it is not best to allow the
thermometer TO be above seventy, and If
they could be kept in room where the
thermometer would usually not range
much above sixty five il wolld be the bet
ter. In the night time fifty is high enough.
Give little fresh air every fine day, and
all the sunlight attainable. An effort should
be made 10 give moisture to the atmos-
phere, for our own good as well as the
health of the plants. This can be done in
various ways by eyaporating water; but
when plants are in a separate apartment,
like little greenhouse, it can be done
more conveniently and etfectually, al
though this separate apartment be only a
bay window, with glass doors, sepai ating
it from the living room. In this wafer
can be used freely, by Swinging, &c., and
a moist atmosphere preserved. The tenn
perature, with this arrangement, can be
kept lower than would be comfortable in
the living room, and the plants are saved
from dust and many evils which we man
age to endure and live, but which general
ly prove too much fol The plants.
Air and Light.-Every one knows that Il
plant grown In the dark is weak and color
less and if it has plenty of light and little
air, while it will have the natural color, it
will be weak and sickly. The gardener,
therefore, is careful to give his greenhouses
and hotbeds not only light, but air at every
convenient opportunity. In winter, he
halls a bright sunny day with delight.
Plants will suffer from a current of cold
air just as their owners would, but will be
benefited by an invigorating breath of
fresh air. Provide, therefore, for air in
some way, especially on pleasant days.
ClednlinesS-is as necessary to the health
of plants as TO animals, and it is therefore
necessary to secure them from dust as
much as possible, and also to cleanse the
plants frequently by Swinging or washing.
Even here little caution is necessary, for
while the smooth-leaved plants are bene-
fitted, not only by showering, but even by
washing the leaves with a cloth or sponge,
the rough-leaved plants like the Begonia
rex, do not like 10 have the surface of their
leaves frequently moistened. 1t would,
therefore, be well TO remove such plants
before Swinging. Take every precaution,
however, to prevent the accumulation OF
dust upon the plants; and above ak en-
deavor to screen them from that terrible
infection, carpet-sweeping. 1t may be
well enough to kill the old people by COM
| polling them to breathe clouds Of dust, but
send the children into the fresh air TO
skate, or TO SNOWFALL, and screen the
| plants, if possible. The essentials Of sue
cess in plant culture are suitable soil, air,
| light, moderate and regular heat, moist
atmosphere, regular and moderate water
ing, and freedom from dust and foul gas.
The plants suitable for winter Towering
in the house are numerous, but none al
ford so much pleasure, we think as good
collection of bulbs, such as hyacinths, mar
cissus, the early tulips and other bulbs.
In the garden there arc usually a few
plants that may be taken up and potted.
The ivy, Madeira vine and Cobea scandens
are graceful climbers, and will bear almost
any amount of bad treatment. Tuberoses
that have not bloomed in the garden and
are showing flower stems, may be taken
up and pOtted, aud will flower in early
winter A root of the dicentra will give
satisfaction. The ten-weeks stock is also
fine winter bloomer, and can be treated
in the same manner. A pot of mignonette
costs but few cents, and not many expen-
sive plants will afford as much pleasure.
Sow the seeds in September or October.
1t is we'll TO prepare two or three pots,
The sweet alyssum treated rs advised for
mignOnelie will also please, and nothing
will make up better in button-hole bou-
quets than these sweet little flowers. A
few larger plants are desirable, and the
Gala, draeena and begonia are very patient
under almost any kind Of treatment. We
have not, however, space TO enlarge on this
subject, but VIII merely say that few lii
les, like longihorum, auratum and lancifo-
lium, though not omen seen In the house
will afford a pleasant surprise, and flower
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