The Portland daily press., 1877-11-21
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Gul,ixa,ion Of Plants.

Amateurs often ask the question, why do
they not succeed better with some of the
plants that are grown in green house, while
at the same time they have hardly any
trouble with those that they start themselves.
1t may be in some cases that the plants were
not what they should be. They may have
been forced too much or have been unhealthy
or have had insects on them; but the chances
are that the plants purchased were some
thing new or rare, or those that the owner
knew nothing about taking care Of. - In order
to become successful it is quite important to
secure good, strong, healthy plants, and
those that are free from insects. 1t is better
to have what plants you do have good healthy
ones than q much larger number OF an infer
ior class. 1t is better 70 know good deal
about a few plants than little about good
many. In some cases one or two unhealthy
ones, or these covered with insects, may
rain large number if not taken care Of 1t
is better TO trade with some reliable person
or firm, and il you wish for information in
regard to any plant you are to purchase ask
for it. State what you wish it for, and leave
1t to the selection of the florist. Few plants
that are allowed to bloom freely in the open
ground during the summer will be of much
value for winter bloom, as they are so
much injured by taking UP. When the florist
takes choice plant, he takes up as much
earth as will remain on the roots, cuts back
the branches so that the leaves will not throw
off the moisture faster than the roots will
pump it up, and keeps it few days in the
shade. Some plants, like the fuchsia and the
pelargonium, require rest, and they are cut
back and left dry for time. An amateur,
where they wish a plant TO rest, or grow
slowly, will keep on watering and enriching
it, and then keep breaking off the ends of the
branches, and wonder why 1t does not bios
som. Although the growth has been check
ed for time, the poor thing has had no rest.
and besides has had every bud, or every place
where there would have been one, taken OFT
and thrown away.
Plotting Plants for House Culture-Most
florist use rotted turf, leaf mould and rotted
manure, In about equal proportions. but the
two last, with good loom or garden soil, will
answer very well. Do not use much sand
unless the soil is very heavy, and 1t should
not be. One of the most common errors Of
the amateur is in the using of too large pots.
Some do not wish to shift their plants more
than once or twice year at the extent. A
large proportion of the plants that are sold
are taken from small pots, say from two and
a halt to four inches. They need larger pots
in private house than greenhouse, as the
atmosphere is much more moist in the latter
place than in the former; but in most cases
one or two sizes larger than the ones they are
taken from will be sufficiently large. A plant
should be re-potted when the ball of earth is
well filed with roots, this can be ascertain
ed by taking it from the pot), and while they
are in growing condition, before they are
turned brown. Some are not so much in
jured by being pot-bound as others. The
fuchsia should not be allowed to be pot-bound
very much, while there is but little danger Of
keeping the roots of the pelargonium in too
small pot, that is, if it is kept healthy and
growing. Perhaps there is no class of plants
that give 80 good satisfaction to those who
understand their treatment as the pelargoni-
ums. The season for their bloom being
mostly IN the spring and summer, they will
bloom better il the roots are pretty well con-
fined during that season, but in no case
should it be allowed to remain dry long
enough for the leaves to wilt. Large pots,
filled with rich earth, produce large plants,
but few flowers. The earth should not be
within from one-half to an inch OF the top of
the pot. Florists claim that unglazed pots
are the best; still, "a plant will not dry so soon
in glazed pot as in an unglazed one. If
for any reason plant is put in large pot,
dish or a glazed pot, there should be good
drainage, as water should not be allowed to
remain stagnant in the soil.-"C. F. G.,
IheHord, in Vermont Journal.