Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-10

MR.. J. T. C. CLARKs ESSAY READ BEFORE THE
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
Inc HORTICULTURAL Society met last night, the
president, MI. John A. Baker, in the chair and
Mi. g. T. Chase secretary. J.T.C. Clark. esa..
read an interesting essay on house plants and
thelr cultivation. The cultivation of flowers
a, aS 9 3h OF Inc Few pleasures which improve
alihe tne MIND and the heart and makes every
llCe lover OF these beautiful Creations wiser
pure, ana nonler. The book Of nature is open
all who study IL. All plants have their nacuu
afItleS, which must be understood TO success
lully cultivate them. Persons grow fioWe-s
i9r aiHerent objects, but few can realize the
absorbing love that causes the genuine student
OF nature 10 bow the head In the presence of
me heaVen-lent loneliness OF Flora S OfTerinp.
LIE ne aose Oh howers has been manifested in ali
ages ana among all conditions of persons. The
piSassing aoornment OF our homes with beaIti
nr mVmeis VIII lmpart TO our children the love
us 4Se ana the refinement OF social life Let
US tnen learn 10 plant and cultivate them 20
secure suitable house plants for cuIture-sucS
s as VIII repay us with beautiful mowers
th their .ne n Winter.we should understand
ind plants differ widely in p'I hah we
ana that they require different cultivafinno
n nn,efs o new e go r1s hearty
nre than twenty half nurtured. TO Secure
mowers or foliage through the winter proper
care 81 ould De given them. For housing sirnp
y, they may be kept in any ordinary room
having light, with temperature not below 4n
degrees. Plants which have doomed througho
OUT lne summer cannot be expected to bloom
CnIough the winter, as season OF rest is neces.
Say n,ay,s toI an plants. For winter lowering,
inc buds should be pinched Off as they apnear
until Cne nrst OF September The later the hid !,
are plnched OH the later will they bloom in tho
WmteI. This Is especially the case with carna
S Saohs, Oouvardias and heliotropes Plants should
De given fresh air every day. They should be
pa( ed In such position as each part can receive,
ngnt, or they will become weak, Struggling and
out OF shape, by bending toward the iight.
Light Is essential, and the green color OF the
foliage is owing to It. The influence of light Is
which always turn towards the light Light Is
the stimulus OF the vital principle-during the
day 1t affects the elaboration OF the elements OF
Water and carbon, producing the different
SPECIFIC species, and is the chief agent of ma
duration as well as OF color. Sudden changes
Excessive heat destroys the foliage and buds.
an equai temperature should be preserved,
VIII oui.aoie ventilation. temperature ay-
eraglng lrom 90 to Is In the day and not below
40 IN Ia Ine nlght will be found suitable for most
mouse pants. The soil used In p0tting should
be neither too sandy or too HEAVY mixtnra
or leaf mold, sand and common garden soil will
De found suitable for most varieties. Fine nnW.
dered charcoal placed In the bottom of the nnts
will correct the acidity OF the sou from over.
ana ammoniated preparations may be used to
advantage. In potttDg, the pots should be free
from mould, suitable In size, and In order to
secure proper drainage pieces of broken flower
pots, charcoal, &C., should be placed In the bot
tom OF the pots. Water OF ten to fifteen degrees
used The different insects enemies to thu
mouse plants were described, and ways sug-
gested how to rid the plants from them. The
s0p9ect WAS IWtheI discussed BY 1eSarS, John