Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-11-11
Pure Air and Moisture for House
Plants.

HOUSE plants are things of life which
require pure and warm air and moisture
as we'll as animals. A wide pan of water
should always be placed on the stove or in
the heating furnace at point where it
will be heated enough to send off vapor
into the air, and it should be kept sup
piled with water at all times. Towels,
napkins or other cloths hung near the fire
ard wetted as often as they become dry
will impart an agreeable feeling to the air
of room. Every lady must have noticed
how pleasant the change from the dry sit
ting or dining room to the laundry or
kitchen where damp clothes are hanging
around, if not in so large quantity as to
produce over-dampness. The objection
to stoves and hot-air furnaces has no doubt
resulted from the absence of sufficient
moisture-applying apparatus. Stove-rooms
that are not properly ventilated are ruin
Gus to growing plants. The whole atmos-
phere in the Conservatives Of florists is al
ways kept so moist that a person when
entering observes the dampness Yet
such an atmosphere is congenial to tender
plants. Most growing plants become
sickly and " drawn up" in the parlors of
our irst-class houses, while in those of
less pretension we frequently see them
vigorous and flourishing. Inhouses with
out modern Improvements" the air is
not heated until its capacity for moisture
is such as to greedily take it from the
plants as well as from the persons who
dwell there, nor are the windows sealed so
tightly that the plants cannot have
breath of fresh air from without IF
people will make a climate in their
houses like that of a desert they
must content themselves with such plants
as are naturally adapted to arid regions.
Cactuses, crasulas, sedums and such
thick-skinned plants will endure an
amount of roasting and drying which
would kill a camelia or rose. Suppos-
ing the plants to be well established in
good soil the three points to be attended
to are air, water and cleanliness. Every
day when the weather is not too cold the
window sash should be let down at the
top and on mild days kept open during
the warmer part Of the day. In the first
place cleanliness is to be observed with
the pots. If they have become covered
with green film they are to be set in
pail of water and soaked a while and the
green matter washed off with a cloth
or scrubbing- brush. The inside of the
pot should be clean down to the earth and
the surface of the soil free from moss and
fallen leaves. AS to the plants themselves
the two great troubles are dust and in
sects. A paper or light muslin screen
laid over them while the room is being
swept will keep off a great deal of dust,
but even this will not obviate the necessity
for washing and Swinging. Broad and
smooth leaved plants may be washed with
a soft sponge, or, what is better, placing
the hand over the earth turn the plant
upside down and move it briskly about
for few seconds in a vessel of water
Then set the plant upright, wash each
leaf between the finger and thumb and
give it another rinsing. A plant
too large to be treated in this way may be
syringed or lay it down and let water fall
upon it from considerable height from
watering pot. This can be done out of
doors in mild weather and in cold weather
in sink or bathing-tub. If plants are
washed they will be but little
troubled by insects.-N. 7. Herald.