The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-12-27
cultivation OF HUuse-Plants.

Prof Maynard says comparatively few per
sons who cultivate window plants are more
than partially successful in their efforts.
Among the reasons for this want of success
may be given these: u want OF knowledge Of
the conditions of plant growth; want of time
TO care for them properly; lack Of the proper
temperature and a pure, moist atmosphere.
First, very few persons realize that plants may
be injured by too much or too little water, and
fail to understand when the soil is too wet or
too dry. Plants, as well as animals, must have
pure air for healthy growth. Those persons
who are successful in growing plants have an
intense love for their pets, and soon learn to
detect anything wrong in their condition, and
apply the remedy. Second, plants require con-
slant care Their condition must be closely
watched and the soil not be allowed to get too
dry, nor be watercd too much. Their condition
must be known at all times; and If the green
fly appears, it must be destroyed at once by
crushing or by dipping into tobacco water
about the color of strong tea, or strong soap
suds, rlnslng the plant carefully after fifteen
or twenty minutes If the red spiders appear,
destroy them by sponging the under side of
the leaf with cold soapsuds. Their presence
IS an indication that the atmosphere is too dry.
II the mealy bugs are found, they should be
destroyed by touching with alcohol, or by
brushing of with a soft, dry brush. If mildew
attacks roses or verbenas, it must be destroyed
by washing or dipping in solution of lime
and ulphur, made by boiling one pound of
caustIc lime with one pound of ulphur in two
gallons of water This should be allowed to
settle, and then kept IN bottles ready tor use.
In using it take one teaspoonful to one quart
OF water. One treatment In any of these case.
may not be sufficient, and must be repeated as
often as necessary Eternal vigilance Is the
only price OF success Third, according to
the temperature required ter the healthy
growth of different plants, they may be divid
ed into two classes, namely: Those that grow
well at an average temperature OF so Fab
that is, ranging from 40o to co. and those
that require higher temperature, an average
Of zoe ranging from 60o to 70o.
The first class will include geraniums, car.
nations, centaureas, camelias, azaleas, abutl
Ions, argeratums, calas, sweet alyssum, Eng
fish ivies, smilax, mignonette, hyacinths
primulas, stevias, petunias, verbenas, lobelIas
and roses. In the second class are begonias
bouvardlas, epiphylums, and all cati, fuchias
yloxinias, German ives, helotrope, zorrenias
pleas and roses Roses are included in both
classes, rs they will succeed well under both
conditions.
Plants grow much better where the tempera
ture runs lower at night than during the day
1t never should go below 400 Fab. in the
FIRST case or below so : IN the second case. II
plants stand near window a screen should
se made by FASTING papers to frame, similar
to that used for mosquito screens, placing il
between the plants and the window every
night. A screen made in this way may be in
serted 10 moment, and may consist Of several
thiCknesses of paper.
A moist atmosphere is indispensable to the
healthy growth OF plants, and is obtained by
keeping the pan in the furnace filed with wa
ter or an urn or some other vessel upon the
stove. The atmosphere must be free from sui
phuross gases, and to accomplish this end the
back damper in the stove must be kept open
enough to allow its escape, and the window
raised a little every day for short time when
the temperature outside will allow.
If small plants taken from the greenhouse
be carefully potIed in suitable soil placed IN q
room with q somewhat moist atmosphere, free
from poisonous gases, carefully watered, ex
posed to the sunlight part Of the day, no in
scots allowed on them, the temperature KEEP
as directed, they will grow and and well repay
the labor Of caring for them, aRd homes bt
. made brighter and happier by the presence o.
an abundance Of flowers.