Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-15
PLANTS Fob THE P4RLoR WINDOW

The greatest obstacle 10 the successful man
asenIent Of house plants II the drNneSS Of the
air IN dwelling rooms. They are usually warm
enough, and lhe watering at the roots can he
accomplished without difficulty: but, nj hough
every ming that skill and care can suggest
may oe ludiciouSly administered, the lack OF
sufiicleni atmospheric moisture is a Constant
uraWhack, which cannot well be overcome 50
lCnE az The plants are not isolated from the
cEniinoh air ol The room.
Under these conditions plants with large
leaves, or those furnished with A mass OF
acINs lollage, are the most susceptible Of in
jury from dry air; they also require plenty OF
light, and are apt 10 grow with slender long
buds. '"''
But there are dozens of Interesting pIapts
mat accommodate themselves perfectly i'm
uWelllng rooms. Such, for instance are the
sshaIer forms OF Cacli, the dwarf kinds Of
MoocactuS and Mammilaria and even the
nat-temmed EpyphyllumS, or Crab Cactus as
they are sometimes called, may be seen in
psIior windows, complete mass Of flowers.
Then there is the Aloe family; these are
quite curious IN some Of the species although
Ihelr nowers are not very iiant in coloring
The great American aloe, so called is NOT h,ra
meant; the name Is miSnOmer, as il is an
Agaye: but even in this genuS-the Agayc-
there are quite number OF dwarf growing
species OF great diversity of form, as well as III
singular beauty OF leaf
These are all eminently cleGnly plants, re
curing very little water, and never making 4
mess with falling leaves or buds.
Various species of ONaliS. or wood sorrel ava
also well adapted 10 parloT culture as they are
>eldcm troubled with insects, and are gener-
ally pTOtuSe in flowers: they are mostly tuhar
ouS-ToOted, and when they have finished their
keailN growth, which will I've Indicated hy ina
leaves changing color, they can be set out ia
The order and again lifted and placed ia pbtS
towards the 1al. good selection would Ia
iiaya. "
The Cylamen is another choice Npynriur
pant hui rarely met with in rOum-cuiure aud
Yet II would he difficult Ia select a more ornt
mental one when in flower the leaves of some
Il a oil
mostly nearly hardy, but perhaps the hest for
houSe-culture is e. PerSicum and its varieties
some OF which are very snowy aud delightful.
~ fragrant. Their management Is very II
PIE: alter they have Powered. which they do
IN winter and spring, they should be enfpur-
aged 10 grow by watering freely until about
me mlGdle OF MAY, then plant them In the b ~
der out doors. After the dry season SETS in
the leaves will fade, turn yellow. and Ina very
cry weather, will all drop. About the end ii
August they will show symptoms nf lradD.,
and on this appearance the bulbs should h,,
carefully taken up aud placed in pots aud
taken into the house, where they will groV
ana Hover In due season.
The Chinese primrose is one of the most sat
l factory OF winter towering plants TApyara
somewhat difficult TO preserve through the
dry summer MONTHS and are USUALLY ,taJ
as ANNALS. That is after once 1oWrrinT
hey are thrown aside, and Young I lutS r,iC
ed from seed. This, however requires mora
care and attention than can ordinarily Ia
given in parlOr. so that il will be more S5ff,-
factory to procure few plants towards win
Ter, from green house. They do not re- mi -
So much water; or rather, if kept continually
wet The Stems will rot of n the surface of th,,
SOL: Tut with this precau ion in their man.
agement they'will flower for several months
during winter
The AmaylliS tribe is much neglected
FAMILY oil plants, and they are. above ali
others, emlnenlly fitted for the paTor. Their
culture Is OF the easiest, and their lily like
rOWerS are not surpassed for beauty of forrn
ana color. In their coioringS they vie with
the tulip. They usually flower before makinr
leaves. and are often injured by NEGLECT They
require TO be duly supplied with water unlfI
The leaves turn yellow, when less coniouS
supply VIII enable them sooner To comppf.
Their growth. They should then b. placed out
In tie sun and receive no wafer The SPECIAL
point in their culture is 10 keep them dry
until they show efforts of growth. which is in
ulcated by the green points of the leaves
emerging from the centre of the bulb hut on
no account should they be watered until This
evidence of starting is visible even if II
should he Tor months, otherwise the bulbs will
decay. Instances are not uncommon where
they remain at rest for years, but they usually
1tl5"W the seasons unless under peculiar treli
ment
A few of the hardy ferns, so plentiful in the
rocky woodlands, look well when infrroiv I
win parlor plants; their graceful fronds give
an AR OF Hn6Sh 10 groups of otherwise com
moh,p place appearing plants.-I The F3oraiaRI
Fruit Magazine.