Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-04-10
WINDOW GARDENING.

Window gardening is pleasure in
which all who love flowers can participate
and an occupation for which no one is too
poor. The broken sugar bowl. or teapot.
or tin can, contains some treasured house
plant, so often displayed at the window of
tenement house, tells US that Its owner
possesses u love of the beautiful, and
derives as much enjoyment as the rich re-
ceive from their hothouses filled with rare
orchids, vines and plants. For a love of
1owers seems to be a part of our COM
mon nature, implanted in almost every
heart, and there are household plants in
thousands of tamilies-plants that were
once carefully tended by mothers or
a sisters hand, and the fragile plant now
remains rs II memento of the loved one.
AT this season all the plants in the win
dow garden should be in luxuriant growth
and most of them covered with wealth
OF buds and howers-for the sun has
passed the point where IT'D rays possessed
less power to stimulate vegetable growth,
and daily it gives fresh vigor and luxur-
ance to every green thing of the earth.
Ii, however. ou" plants are not in for
ward condition, we must give them =
spring tonic which will cause them TO push
forth the much desired buds aud blossoms.
whose cheering presence will infuse new
pleasures into our surroundings.
In order to do this, we must study some
what concerning their needs-as the ap-
petite of plants differs according to their
species. Roses and pansies, heliotropes,
geranlums. fuchsias, etc are plants of
strong, vigorous habits, and rich food. 1t
will not injure them, ii they have good
drainage, to take a good dose of seme kind
OF liquid manure at least in three or four
days. have been using, with remarka-
bly, good effect, mixture of carbonate OF
amonia and satpetre. The first named
article can be purchased in jar, and by
being kept tightly closed its contents will
not be injured: the saltpetre can be
bought by the pound and placed in glass
or pottery.
When desired for use. take piece of
the carbonate of ammonia AS large as a
hens egg. and dissolve it in pint
of boiling water, and stir into it one table
spoonful OF saltpe,re. When it is all dis
solved. water the plants with it, pouring
it literally over the soil. It can be used
while quite warm without injury to them.
tablespoonful of guano, dissolved in
one gallon OF warm water. and used twice
Il Wceh, VI every louIlI uhN, IS also all eA-
cellent stimuant for all kinds of plants.
Liquid fertilizer. made from horse or cow
manure Is equally good; but care must be
taken not to use it IN too strong doses. AS
it will burn up the tender rootlets and kill
the plants.
II any plants were placed in the cellar
tor safe keeping, now is the time to bring
them up and repot them for fresh growth.
Carefully pick off all the decayed leaves,
and brush the dust from their branches,
and shower them thoroughly with warm
water, wetting the soil until it drains out
If the plants are in small pots, run
knife around the edges. and turn the ball
OF earth into your hand; and it the roots
are closely matted together around the
outside. another pot of larger size is
neediul. If you use new pots, soak them
in water; ii old ones. wash off all the re-
mains OF soil that are upon them. Put q
few small bits OF charcoal at the bottom to
keep the soil well drained and sweet
Take the plant that is to be re-potted, turn
it upside down on your left hand. with the
stem between your finger; give the bot
tom OF it few raps, and the plant will
slip into your hand. Place it in the centre
OF the fresh pot, and fill up all around its
sides with good pottng soil, pushing it
firmly down with your fingers or small
stick. Cover the top with fresh soil. then
strike the pot several times on the floor.
Water it well and keep it in the shade for
three or four days.-Daisy Eye6right a..
the COuH{Tlj Gentleman