The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-23
Window Plants.

Window Plants.
Professor Maynard says, in the Scientific
Farmer comparatively few persons who cul-
tlvate window plants are more than partially
successful in their efforts. Among the rea-
sons for this want OF success may be given,
first, a want of knowledge of the conditions
of plant growth; second, want of time to
care for them properly; third, lack OF the
proper temperature and pure moist atmos.
phere. First, very few persons realize that
plants may be injured by too much or too
little water, and fail to understand when the
soil is too wet or too dry. Plants. as well as
animals, must have pure air for healthy
growth.
Those persons who are successful in grow
ing plants have an intense love for their pet,
and soon learn to detect anything wrong in
their condition, and apply the remedy
Second, plants require constant care. Their
condition must be watched closely and the soil
not be allowed to get too dry, nor be watered
too much. Their condition must be known
at all times; and if green fly appears it m ust
be destroyed at once by crushing, or dipping
in tobacco water about the color of strong
tea, or in strong soapsuds, rinsing the plant
carefully fifteen or twenty minutes after dip
ping.
II the red spiders are found, destroy them
by sponging the under side of the leaves with
cold soapsuds. There presence is an indica-
ton that the atmosphere is too dry. II
mealy bugs appear, they should be destroyed
by touching with alcohol, or brushing off
with dry, soft brush. If mildew attacks the
roses or verbenas, it must be destroyed by
washing or dipping in a solution Of lime and
sulphur, made by boiling one pound OF caus-
tic lime with one pound Of sulphur IN two
gallons of water. This should be allowed to
settle, and then kept in bottles ready for use.
In using it, take one teaspoonful to one quart
of water.
One treatment in any of these cases may
not be sufficient, and must be repeated as
often as necessary. Eternal vigilance is the
only price Of success Iolrd, ACCORDING 10
the temperature required for the healthy
growth of the different plants, they may be
divided into two classes namely: Those that
grow vel at an average temperature OF so de-
prees Fahrenheit, that is, ranging from 40 to
60 degrees, and those that require higher
temperature, an average of ~ degrees, rang
ing from so to 70 degrees.
The first class will include geraniums, car
nations, centaureas, camellias, azaleas abuti-
Ions, ageratums, callas, sweet alussum, Eng
Lsh ivies, smilax, mignonette, hyacinths, pri-
mulas, stevias, petunias, verbenas. lobelias,
and roses. In the second class are begonias,
bouvardias, epipbyllums, and all cacG, fuch-
sias, gloxinias, German ivies, heliotrope, zor-
renias, pleas, and roses. Roses are included
in both lists rs they will succeed undar both
conditions. ....
Plants grow much better where the tenn
perature runs lower at night than during the
day. 1t never should 60 below forty degrees
Fahrenheit in the first case, or below fifty de-
grees in the second case II plants stand
near q window, q screen should be made by
FASTING papers to = frame, similar to that used
for mosquito screens, placing it between the
plants and the window every night. screen
made in this way can be inserted in a moment,
and may consist Ct several thicknesses Of
paper.
moist atmosphere is indispensable to the
healthy growth OF plants, and is obtained by
keeping the pan in the furnace filled with
water, or an urn or some other vessel upon
the stove. The atmosphere must be free
from sulphurOus gases, and to accomplish
this end the back damper in the stove must
be kept open enough to allow its escape, and
the windows raised little every day for a
short time when the temperature outside will
allow.
If small plants, tax n from the greenhouse.
be carefully potted in suitable soil, placed in
q room with somewhat moist atmosphere,
free from poisonous gases, carefully watered,
exposed to the sunlight part OF the day, no
insects allowed upon them. and the tempera-
ture kept as directed, they will grow and well
repay the labor OF caring for them, and homes
be made brighter and happier by the pres
ence Of an abundance of flowers.