The Red Cloud chief., 1877-05-31
Plants in Rooms.

Plants in Rooms.
Influence Of Growing Vegetation on tho
Bealth-POisonous Perfume Of Certain
Flowers.
Growing plants, vegetation in general.
is the means nature employs to purify
the atmosphere. The gasses which are
the products of respiration and of the
decomposition of organic matter, either
vegetable or animal. are assimilated by
the growing plant or converted into its
tissues. In the wondrous laboratory Of
nature these processes are constantly
in operation, so that all organic sub.
stances in their turn, together with all
the effete products of animal life, serve
the purpose of sustaining vegetation.
The process of this assimilation of mat
ter or food in plants is a direct result of
the action of sunlight, though there is
reason to believe the process is not
wholly intermitted during the night,
but that the peculiar action induced in
the plant by the direct sunlight is con
tinued with a diminishing force in the
hours of ordinary darkness. Probably
but little new matter is received into
the plant in the night, but the process
of assimilation is in completion. The
facts and experiments on which these
deductions are made could he given in
detail, but those curious in this matter
we would refer to the writings of veg
etable Psychologists.
So far, then, as growing plants are
concerned, we have a clear case. and
can say positively that they are not in
furious, but actually beneficial There
is, however, another view to take of the
subject, and that is in regard to bloom.
ing plants. The perfume of some flow
ers is not only d~isagreeable to some per-
sons, but, when they are exposed to
them for some length of time, affects
them with headache, nausea and febrile
symptoms, more or less aggravated
especially is this the cas- with those
peculiarly heavy OdOrs, given off by
some varieties Of h~yacinths, tuberoses,
jasmines, orange blossoms, and some
other kinds. OF these effects there is
no question, and all such plants should
be avoided by those sensitive to them,
and, probably, it would be we'll for any
one not to have many such plants in a
sleeping room, but the caution is scarce
ly necessary, for it is seldom that any
great amount of bloom is attained in
house-plants in the winter. Again, the
ventilation that is necessary, and that
in every well regulated room is given,
secures from all harm. in ordinary prac.
tice, from the odors of flowers.
A bouquet left standing in the same
water for several days, as is sometimes
allowed, may become quite offensive,
but this cas- of decaying vegetable
matter is far different from living
plants. A light burning in the room.
or q small animal, like a cat or a dog,
occupying it, will vitiate and destroy
the atmosphere to a very sensible ex.
tent, but who objects to their presence
on this account? The least care in
ventilation cOrrects 1t all. In this con.
nection We may well reQuote an ex'
tract from q note We published last
year from the editor of one of our med,
ical journals. He says:
II think plants could be used a. a sort
of vitsometer. The value Of plants il
a health point of view is not vet appre
ciated as it will be. A room WHERE
plants do. we'll makes a good living
room. The three sources of i'll health
in indoor life, in winter in particular
are-irst, superheated air; second, to<
dry air; and third, an air loaded with
carbonic acid. Regulate the first twt
conditions 80 plants will live and thrive
and they will rapidly absdb the acid
Under our plant stand, my wife has ,
long tray of water, which keeps the ali
moist by evaporation, absorbs the car
bOnic acid, and our plants are the won
der Of my patients, and, the health O
our rooms. I can thus point many
lesson In hygiene"
In conclusion, then, only discEimi
mating against those plants, the odor
! Of which we know to be disagreeabl