The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-24
floraI department.
BY CAPT. c.. b. benson.
Care Of the Greenhouse.


At this season, when the reign of
winter is ~undisputed without, those of
our friends who are SO fortunate as to
rejoice in a pit or a small greenhouse,
Of which 50 many have been built
within a few years, will find never
ceasing pleasure in the care of the
petted favorites within.
Perhaps the number of plants lost
by down right cold is comparatively
small. But very many are annually
slain by mistaken kindness.
PLANTS NEED AIR
and to thrive, should have it in free
supply. Everything in the shape of a
greenhouse or pit should be provided
with means of ventilation. Open in
the sunny hours of the day, but avoid
deceit draft on tender plants. When
cold, milldew is apt to result. Expe-
rience will soon teach one how to APP
ply general principles. Fresh air, and
Swinging or washing the leaves will
often do wonders for plants hat have
been exposed to dry heated air, for
some weeks, at this season.
PLANTS NEED WATER
sparingly about the roots, except a
few sorts that may be in active growth
after early winter bloom. Hard wood
ed plants especially should have water
only when the crust of dry soil indi-
Gates the incidence a week will ordi-
narily be sufficient. Camelias and
daphnes should now be in full beauty.
There leaves should be kept clean of
dust by soft sponging, and a little
guanO water once a week will improve
the flowers and add to the general
rigor of the plant. The coolest part
of the greenhouse where the sun will
reach the flowers is the best. Sixty
degrees is quite enough exposed to
the heat that heliotropes and bouvar-
dias love, the regal camelia droops
and suffers. Daphnes, a~zaleas, and all
the woody plants with thread-like
roots are impatient of water, in the
winter.
WHAT MAY WE HAvE IN BLOOM?
i'll January, is not unoften asked.
Well, to begin with, the zonale gera-
NUNS in many colors are always t. be
had, although not in such free luxur.
lance as we shall enjoy in March.
Eupatorium in snowy tufts, stevia
serata. solanum COR nightshade) and
bouvardia jasminoides give us the
white for our bouquets. to which
Chinese primroses form a notable adj
dition. For yellow the Australian
flax, Qlnum tryginnm) and the orange
shades of abutilon. Aguatum and
eranthemum pulchellum give us light
and dark shades of blue. For some
thing more rare and truly superb, use
strelitzia regina. The pink saliva, as
1t Is commonly called, is an indefati-
gable bloomer, and the lilac of gold.
fussia anisophylla is quite as abundant
and free. Lophospermum swings its
rosy bells and the white Cataloniar
AoiiS III S"SSl SldIe, dlDGlt
scanty and chary of treasure
thai her neighbour. Add to these
store OF bulbs in pots, gay tulips, blue
scillas, queenly hyacinths, the daring
~bulbocodium, first knight Grant of the
year, and how beautiful may our shut
up fairyland become?
OFT DOOp DIT ,ETS
are not all asleep. To-day, January
3rd, the violet beds are all one mass OF
purple bloom with those hardy SO.
journers from abroad that to the beauty
of our wildwood violet add a fragrance
it neve knew-the Neapolitan and the
Schonbrunn. Jasminum Nudi1orum
is bright with yellow flowers, on its
swaying stems of green. This fine