Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-01-29
Green, House and House Gardening,
Manv of our readers have only n f

Many of our readers have only few
window plants. These are often kept
too warm, too wet, have too little sun
light, and have too many insects. In
towns, in addition to all these, they
have often too much of the fumes CT
burning gas. Leaks or escapes from
the gas pipe is well known injury to
plants, but it is not so well known that
plants suffer, though in less degree,
from the common burning of coal gas.
The trouble with most room cultivaters
is known when plants get too much
attention. Too many insects are easily
know, one-a single one-is by Tar too
many. We still think there is nothing
like coal oil 10 destroy all kinds Of H.
sects. A very little-just enough 10
make colored scum on the surface OF
a tub of water is enough, and in this the
insect covered plant may be dipped,
iuverting the pot and plunging only the
plant, and not the pot of course. III
TOO much oil is used the plant may be
injured. Too wet is when a plant
seldom gets dry-a healthy plant should
get dry, aud have light dry looking sur
face soil, every two or three days as to
heat a temperature Of about $50 or GU
is best for room plants, below that
they do not flower freely, above they
grow week, especially if they have not
a great deal Of sunlight. Indeed heat
should be in proportion to direct sun
light on the plant.
Where the air is dry in rooms or
greenhouses, frequent syringings are OF
much benefit to plants. Besides,
cleanliness keeps down insects ana
checks disease in plants as in animals;
Most old fashioned lady gardeners land
NAV we ever bless them for the many
lessons they have taught us. take every
opportunity to seq their wlndow-plants
ont of doors whenever a warm shower
happens to occur. In winters ram at
a temperature of 400 or 450, which often
occurs, might be called a warm
shower" Cold water does not have
half the injurious effect on plants that
cold air has. When plants get accl-
dentally frozen, the best remedy in the
world is to dip them at once in cold
water and set them in the shade to
thaw.
II is better to keep in heat IN cold
weather BY covering, where possible
than to allow it to escape. calculating to
make t good by fre-heat, which is at
best. but a necessary evil. Where
bloom is in demand, nothing less than
$50 will accomplish the object; though
much above that is net desirable, OK
cept for tropical dollhouse plants
Where these plants are obliged to be
wintered in a common green-house'
thew should be kept rather dry and n OF
be encouraged much to grow, or they
may rot away. ;,
Ferneries are now so deservedly |
popular. that we must have word TO
saw for them at times, though their |
management is so simple. there IS little
one can say. 1t Is probably their ease
of management, and The great results
obtained for the little outlay Of care
that has rendered them so popular. 1t
should not, however, be forgotten that
the cases in which they are enclosed Is
not to keep out the air, but to keep ID
the moisture, as Ferns will not thrive
in the dry atmosphere OF heated rooms.
A few minutes airing every day will,
therefore. be OF great benefit to them
Decayed wood, (not plne), mixed with
about half its bulk Of fibrous soil OF any
kind, and a very small proportion (say
tenth of the bulky of well-rOtted stable
manure, makes a good compost. Most
kinds particularly like well-drained pots.
This is usually effected by filling
third of the pots in which the Ferns are
to grow with old pots broken IN pieces
OF about half an inch square, on which
a thin layer of moss is placed, before
filling the pots, TO keep out the soil from
choking the drainage. -Gardner's Non
THY.