The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-11

to start cuttings in wntG but think it
mistake, as | have starteuquite number
OF geraniums, polegomiums fuchuas and
lantanas this winter. The pas,Year have
procured quite a number of diffrent vari
cites of begonias, some for the Bauiy of I
thelf foliage and others for their dHerent
colored blossoms. These find thrive est
IN rather cool and shady situation anul !
want more sand in the earth, about two.
thirds sand and the rest loan, with plenty |
oil charcoal for drainage. They like a moist |
| atmosphere, but not much water on the |
roots, so | shower the foliage with warm |
water, being careful to avoid getting much |
into the pot have never found any in |
sect that troubles these, but if they are put |
into too rich earth or kept too wet, the |
roots will decay or the stalks damp off |
just above joint, and 1t Is considerably |
80 with the Chinese primrose or primula, |
japonica, IL kept too moist but the prim- |
rose will not bear water on its leaves at all |
and likes richer soil than the begonia. My
first primrose-poor thing how hard
tried to make ii live-but instead was kill
ing it with mistaken kindness. / had read
in the florists book of instructions, "prim
roses delight in rich, sandy soil and moist
temperature" "Well," | said, 81 can
substitute for the moisture repeated show
L
get something of a moist atmosphere about
it also my bagonia rox. knew they
grew well in the moist atmosphere of fern
cases, so I'll put it 10y the side of my pTim-
| rose and so kill two birds with one stone
and most assuredly 1 did, beyond any fu-
ture resurrection, too.
| think the double white primrose more
| impatient under ill-treatment than the sin
| gle varieties, and is not apt to do quite as
xrra1l in xtsifb 1fh tn, sbo
but neither kind will bear crowding / havf'
poinrettia- pulcherrima that has been
quite beauty this winter, if arranged in
with other plants so as to cover the bare
stalk, and thus hide another of my blum
ders also my ignorance of botany-for had
| been well read in that | might perhaps
have detected the difference between the
embryo flower buds and the common
leaves, and not re-potted it in just the
wrong time, as l did-experience and
| ignorance again. | had been told
by person whom l supposed
knew, that poinsettia would not be likely
to bloom until two years old, mine not be-
ing that age, and knowing 1t usually
dropped its leaves and rested through the
winter | concluded would re-pot il about
the middle Of November, set it away and
thus make room for some other plant that
needed the sunlight. In a short time, how
ever, | saw my mistake, but too late to
save any of the green leaves that help so
much to set off the bright scarlet ones that
surround the flower proper. Any one that
has warm sunny window can grow these
| If the temperature of the room does not
run too low at night, and as their name in.
dictates, are very beautiful, beside lasting a
long time in flower.
The acacia, too, is another shrub of easy
culture, with much prettier foliage and
quicker growth than the oleanders, and
having quite pretty and fragrant flowers.
There is a trailing arbutelon with pretty
lance shaped and marbled leaves which re-
quires no peculiar treatment, likes con
siderable water, and of course must have a
soil that will not get sodden and sour, as
all other plants of this character should
have few tea-chna or bengal roses,
but they are young and l have only exper-
imented little with them, but enough to
be convinced that they do much nicer in
soil Of burnt sod than any other / know of.
Any good rich sod burned till it will feel
like ashes, and light enough to crumble
through your fingers. / hear one of my
neighbors is trying fuchia in it and that is
doing well. l am inclined to believe it is
just as good for those as roses, as both are
lovers of alkali and enormous eaters.
was good deal troubled with the red spi-
ders on my roses, and from them they trav-
eled to my fuchsais. Being unable to get
the whale oil soap to kill them VI th, / tried
spirits of camphor and water teaspoon
to one quart of water) with very good sue.
cess. AS that has tendency to revive a
dropping plant as well as persons, think
it on the whole preferable.
With the roses, they being more woollys
l had'the water heated to ab0tA 100 dogs
in deep pail, and gave them quick
plunge, repeating it two three times in
the day, and once every day until cured for
that time. Florists tell you spiders can't
thrive only in the hot dry air Of living rooms,
but l don't believe it though, for there has
been but very few of the plants that are
liable to be afflicted with them, that have
received from the conservatory, but what |
could find the traces if not the insects, al
ready on them. 1 have kept mine in the
kitchen where there is an abundance of
steam and fresh air constantly, still l am
obliged to watch and fight them yet, and
expect to until they are thoroughly accli-
mated to house culture. Persons that have
been accustomed to cultivate roses Cor
other plants) that have been raised for gen.
erations back, generations of plants l
mean in the house, till they have become
perfectly adapted to that kind of cultiva-
lion, know but very little what it is, to take
the tender varieties direct from the hands
of good florist and even temperature of a
conservatory and make them live even
through the process of acclimaton, es-
pecally so if sent you by mail, and per-
haps a word here in regard to the treatment
of such will be of service to some one.
have had the best success to remove
the moss and plunge them for an hour or
| 81 oil
tally so, if at all dry when received, after
this take any light sandy soil and the small
est clay pot that will accommodate the
roots with very little soil and charcoal
for the drainage at the bottom, say one
about two inches across the top, inside, for
q plant six inches or less in hight. This is
! to encourage new action in the roots, and
have found by inquiring that this is a
principle all florists act upon, with all kinds
of plants where the growth has been check
ed from any cause, for if you give more
soil than is actually needed TO plant where
share of the roofs are inactive it dam
, ages the active ones, by getting sour on
; account of not taking up the moisture con-
tanned in it. After potting, set 10 the shade
, for day or two, or, if in winter, on win
dow after the direct rays of the sun has
I passed, for this reason, the air in our rooms
10 NV ops W " 40 pun oHN hNoh ." "i"NSA
and the sun will correct this in a measure
, where it has chance, l have found il
necessary sometimes to fasten a newspaper
up to the window and let it hang over Oh
: the inside, next the room forming a hood
like, facing the light and over the plants,
thus excluding the heated air of the room
. in measure, also insuring little more
: moisture to the invslids; but still one must
have a care to let in fresh air occasionally
, as this is about the only medicine thoy will
accept of at first. Then in a few days IL
. they keep comfortable looking, you can
= give them little stronger sunlight by let
! ting them remain there while the sun shines
in that direction, by putting a thin cur