Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-12-04

Perhaps every one is not aware that
the coolest place in the room, on cloudy
day or night, is within a foot of the win
dow where the plant stand is stationed.
All dwellings cannot be new, and new
ones are not always proof against the In
sidious attacks of cold. In the old ones
the windows become loose with the wear
and tear of years; there are cracks and
crevices where a small current of cold air
penetrates, and the frost creeps IN stealth
ily and lays palsying hand on the green
leaves, while We are wrapt In slumber
and dream not of the mischief To guard
against this | paste narrow strip OF pa
per (of color to correspond with the
paint in the room over every aperture
that admits a passage Of the air from
without. The unsoiled margin of news
papers is very good for this purpose, and
the texture is light and thin, and adheres
readily to the wood. Every one, | pre-
sumo, does not know what an amount Of
cold thin piece Of paper Is capable OF
keeping out. Give it trial and prove
the fact, only do not select cold, frccz-
ing day for the business. 1t saves the
trouble Of moving the plants at night,
and inSures their safety when the mercury
drops below zero, which it is pretty sure
to DO, at the least calculation, once or
twice in the course of even our mildeSt
winters. Oftentimes it is delayed until
the FIRST spring month. Our climate Is
subject to sudden and unlooked-ior changes
from mild TO extreme. and often one night
will destroy whole winters care and rum
hopeful prospects even as late as March,
when we deem our security good. 1t IS
well to be prepared for these emergencies
or caprices Of our latitude. Some COM
plain of their plants growing pindiing and
weak, and giving no bloom. One fault
IS too high a temperature, with too much
water a portion Of the time, during the
day, and too low one at night. When
this Is the case they grow sickly ana dis.
eased and we hear the often repeated COM
plant, Il can't keep plants, they don't do
well what 10 you do to yours" You
want strong yet growthy plants to secure
bloom and beauty. Every day when |
water, turn my plants, and thus keep
them even and shapely, by allowing every
side the advantage OF the sun.
A slip will grow during the winter, and
become a large Towering plant in four
inch pot, if judiciously watered and cared
for. When a plant takes up its allowance
Of moisture daily from the saucer, i Is do
Ing well and growing rapidly. Coarse
earthen pots, without glazing, are the best
for use, as they are porous, and absorb
any superfuous moisture, which otherwise
would render the earth sodden, and such
will suck up their every day watering, If
the plant contained therein be healthy
Never pour water On the surface; 1t hard
ems the soil, and makes it tight or bound
about the stem, and it should be loose aud
light. Gentle sprinkIing is beneficial.
The dregs Of the tea urn are good placed
on the surface, spread thinly about, as
thtJ ntip 10 retain tue uIVINNuiC ann '''4AN"
the soil at the same time by slow decay.
have growing at this time a rose gerani-
um slip, pOtted last September, which has
this winter put out FIVE branches from the
main stalk two inches from the ground.
The three longest of these measure, from
the BODY Of the plant to the last unfolding
leaf, each twenty inches in length; The
other two are respectively eleven and
thirteen inches long, The whole is grown
in a dve-inch pot, with but little more
than a quart Of soil. IL is exceedingly
thrifty with large, beautiful leaves, OF 4
dark, bright green, which give forth d
fine perfume after gentle shower ,artihc-
tally applied, like a rose, that peryade-
the whole room, and fills it with fragrance
county Gentleman.