Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-19


temperature averaging from IS to 75o during
the day, and not less than 40 during the night.
Will be found suitable for most collections OF
house plants.
The soil used In potting should be neither too
sandy OF too heavy. The first dries too quickly,
and Is apt to become soggy A mixture OF leaf,
mold, sand and common garden soil, Will oe
| found suitable for most varieties or mouse
plants. Fine powdered charcoal placed IN Lne
bottom of the pots will serve to correct the acid
| tty In the soil caused by over WdCeliuS'
| THs MATTER OF sTIMULANTS.
| Stimulants, such as guano, oone uuSG; ah p
| used tO advantage, but must be applied With
| caution, for while beneficial to growing plants
they may prove injurious to those partially OF ,,
preferable to any other. In order to secure
| fuxurtant growth. the soil should afford sup
ply of carbonic acid to the roots, either by de-
Composition Of vegetable mold, or by absorbing
the gas from the atmosphere. This may be Sc
cured by the use of charcoal, which absorb5 1t
rapidly.
The pots she uld be clean, free from mould,
and of a size to suit the plant and the roots to
be grown In them Care must be taken not to
bloom until the roots iii the pots. When the
plants are potted, they should be trimmed; as a
general rule, shortened in One-half. The more
stOcky the plant, the better it is able to sup
port itself, and produce fine healthy blossoms
In order to secure proper drainage pieces OF
broken flower pots, charcoal, &C, should be
plants require different degrees OF moisture, the
aquatic ali abundance, while Others should only
receive sufficency to keep the soil moist.
WATERING.
The system Of watering cannot be too care
fully studied. How and when to apply it must
be learned by experience, for specific directions
cannot be given, Water OF 10 to 15o above the
temperature of the room should be used, which
will stimulate growth, while cold water checks
1t and otherwise Injuries the plants. The differ
ence In the habits OF plants-being natives Of
mountains and plains and moist Valleys
should admonish us that they require different
culture. Consequently, to succeed in their cul-
tivation, we must necessarily learn their pecu-
harities. Water should only be given when the
applied to wet the whole body OF earth in the
pot Water Sparingly, rather than too often,
for more house plants perish from drowning
than from thirst. DO not, however, drloble q
few drops over the plants to-day, to prevent
them from becoming dry tomorrow, practice
regret to say too often followed.
PLANT ENEMIES.
Among other obstacles encountered in the
cultivation OF plants we should prepare our.
selves against the attacks OF their enemies
Chief among these Is Dust. 1t stops the pores
through which they breathe, and IL not removed
leaved plants like the wax plant, jasminum, and
others, can be washed with brush or sponge
but the beyonias, prlmulas. AID Others can
D
or soft, dry cloth, as they are Injured by apply
ing water over head. Geraniums heliotrooes,
and others, may be showered at least once a
week.
The Aphis, or Green fly, may be successfully
destroyed by tobacco smoke. but as this cannot
be employed In the house other remedies must
be resorted to. This insect attacks the tender
succulent shoots, sucking the vitality, and ma
terialy 1nJuring the plant. By 1nverti1g the
plant and dipping it for few minutes into to.
bacco water, whale Oil soap suds, or common
ON 1dc I'D fhnx IN
c re m lSt be taken not to use either of these
s0,ut OnS to strong, as they lay prove niurious
to the p ants. Ascertain the strength of the
oy pphg al the p mt
few mil ute5 II 1t turns brown, or Is burned
when removed. the solution Is too strong, and
shou'd be reduced In strength by the addition of
water. After the dipping the plants shower
them thoroughly.
The "Trip Is another troublesome pest 1t is
very small, with comparatively long slender
flowers and may be found in the crevIceS OF tae
bark Of the plants, but being so SIN all, readily
escape the notice OF amateurs. They vary In
color from a white yellow to a dark brown
They also attack the extremities of young
shoots. The leaves become brown and Shriveled,
and crumble TO dust when rubbed between the
myers. The ravageS OF this insect may be
partially checked by the method recommended
for the Apht5, but not entirely, for fumigation
must eventually be employed to exterml nate
them.
The Red spider Is very injurious where a dry
atmosphere prevails, and II not checked In its
ravages will bring speedy destruction and ruin
and OF bloOd-red color. Plants soon show the
effects OF their attack by the leaves turning
yellow. Numerous webs will be found on the
underSide OF the leaves, aud In some Instances
al over the plant, when IL becomes mass OF
half dead and decayed leaves. Water is fata
To this insect and in an atmosphere OF proper
hun1dltv 'hev are sednm numerous. The
fumes Of sulphur win efectually destroy it
but must be used with caution, as its free use
will cause most plants to shed their leaves
The Coccus, or scale insect, is a common pest
r1eties. such as the Lemon, Camella and Dean
der, are infested by them. There are severa
species OF this Insect varying slightly from elch
other. One kind OF plants are the homes of one
variety, and another sort devotes its attention
exclusively to some other kind This insect
may be found On the under side of the leaves.
and IN the functions of the branches. 1t Is OF
OF an inch in length, and has mealy appear
ance.
The Mealy bug, another species Of the Coo
Gus, Is similar to the former, and Is covered
with white downy substance. Both OF these
insert their beaks into the bark, or leaves and
draw draw from them the sap To destroy these, the
the insects forced Off with small stiff brush
and soap suds, or diluted alcohol
Earth worms are frequently found In the soil
on pot p ants, and may easily be removed by the
soil. 'A'
MILDRw.
Wnere extremes of temperature prevail, MIL
Dew Is sure TO appear, and the plants bac) ne
suddenly covered with whitiSh mold or du,t
DuS'lng the plants with flo Her OF SULPHUR VIII
prove etf1cacionS for its removal
In conclusion, from what we have said. II
must be obvious that to be successful in the
Guilty alton OF house plants, we must become
aequ 1nted with their peculiarities, ana to
some tent understand their wonderful me-
chan1s'n-t' a. We mast study the lessons which
nature tea hes, and realize the fact that the
Veget aole Kingdom as well 4, the animal, eat.
SLEEP, treathe and rest: and thai II we deprive
them OF their p Oper ailments, or expose the n
TO agents y hich disturb their natural .ysi ynua
ito: 8, m rbid action is induced, and disease
and death certainly follow.
PinafOre Extraordinary.
Easter Monday not only w1tne 3sei the bill
liant opening OF the Park, but an 'extraordt-
nary" performance Of "H NJ S Piaatore' at
its immense neighbOr, the Boston theater
There was great crowd and the success was
one OF curiosity at least / confess hOgeves
that 1t seemed very like a prostitution Of talent
for such superb orator1o singer as Myron W
WhitI ey 10 deliver the flippant words and
music OF Captain Corcoran'-tt was precisely
as though Wilhelinj should play .'The Mullgan
Guards This tmoTpSStpp was 6acdod