The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-05-01
AGRICULTURAL.
THE HOUSEHOLD.
The Culture of House Plan is

Al this season OF the year little care be-
slowed upon the treatment of house plants is
better repaid in the future growth of the
plants than az any other time. The soil fol-
potting plants must be light. 1t may be
lightened by mixing it with coarse sand. such
as builders use. The soil should not be
pressed tightly about the plant roots, mol
should the pot be quite filled with mould
There should always be drainage provided.
For pots 1t is sufficient to well cover the bot.
tom oil the pot with small pieces of broken
earthernware; but If boxes are used Iayer
an inch and half deep of coarse cinders is
excellent. This drainage is necessary to pre-
vent the roots from rotting, and it follows
that plants should never be watered from the
fiower-pot saucers. But very little water is
needed at this time of year, nor should it be
perceptibly warmed. Slips or cuttings will
start best in unusually dry soil, if the temper
allure is below 60e F., but if planted in
coarse sand liberal supply of water is neces-
sary. a
A very common error is to choose old wood
for slips or cuttings, whereas the young green
branches are, the best. They should be
planted deeply, and the surface of the soil
must be kept loose. In watering wet the sol
in the neighborhood OF, but not close to, the
cutting. Carnations and pinks are best OBJ.
tanned by layering; that is, the shoots are cut
that the part cut may be covered about half
inch in the soil. 10 about three weeks the
part cut will have thrown out roots, when
the cutting may be removed from the parent
plant and potted by ITSELF Geranium slips
are best obtained by cutting arms of young
wood three-quarters of the way through, at
distance OF about two inches from the end
of the shoot, and then allowing the partly
severed slip to stand about week or eight
1or I1(1
erinR it. Running plants are best propagated
by pinning the arms down to the surface of
the soil; this will cause them to take root as
they spread. To cause plants to grow bnshy
pinch the eyes out of the ends of the longest
branches, which will then throw out side
shoots, and in this way plant may be caused
to grow to almost any required shape.
Ii plants are infested with insects they NAV
be effectually freed as follows: Place them
upon table or platform, on which there are
two or three inches of sand, and cover them
with vessel of any kind, or piece over them
cloth so arranged as to cover without dam
aging them. Beneath the vessel or cover in
sert some burning tobacco, and let it remain
for ten or fifteen minutes. This is much
better plan than using tobacco water, because
the smoke will permeate between the leaves,
where it would be difficult to get the tobacco
water; but if tobacco water is used it should
be syringed beneath the leaves in all direc-
tions. If the soil is impregnated with in
sects, as is very often the case from the use of
fertilizers, the very best remedy is to let the
soil get dry, and then cover it with chimney
SCOT to depth of about one-quarter of an
inch, then apply water literally. This will
kill the insects without iDjuring the plants.
Insects in the fertilizer are very common and
destructive for plants, and can only be
guarded against with certainty by pouring
boiling water on the soil, after we'll mixing
the fertilizer in it. To prevent the destruc-
ton OF seed by insects it may be mixed, be-
fore sowing, with either powdered sulphur or
SCOT, the latter being preferable.
To cause plant to bloom allow it to be-
come pot-bound; that is, let it remain in the
pot until the roots have become matted in the
pot, and as soon as it has done blooming re-
pot it in larger pot, taking care not TO dis
turb the roots. In order to facilitate this
give the plant little water, place the hand
over the surface of the soil, with the fingers
spread out and the stem of the plant between
the fingers; turn the pot upside down and
tap its edge against something solid, and the
plant and mould will come unbroken from
the pot. Place the plant in the middle of the
new and larger pot, and fill in all around it
with rich mould.
Plants raised in the house for subsequent
planting in the garden should be placed out
of doors in the middle of the day during warm
weather, so that they will become gradually
accustomed to the change of temperature and
not wilt when planted out. They should be
planted out in dry soil and in dry weather.
or just before a rain shower Scientiti c
american.