Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-07
Reported for the Germantown pan eie,raphl
Window Plants How to Grow


Them.
"a paper read before the Germantown Horticul
tural Society. by David oiiffe, of Mount Airy
Ihaye chosen the above subject in the hope
that might in some measure give encourage
ment to those OF my hearers who desire to Gull
uvate a taste for plant-culture In their homes
TO grow plants to perfection in our homes IS
not one OF the easiest things. yet is possible.
have seen certain varieties Of plants Guilt
waited In dwellings that would do credit to any
proof of this, would refer to the town OF
Iewisburg, Pa. may safely assert that this
inland town is q model OF perfection in window
gardening. Pleasant homes and an Intelligent
community, in the winter season its windows,
from the most unpretentious to the most ele-
giant, are perfect gardens OF floral and Orna-
mental plants. Chief among these are the
eyerbooming Chinese primroses in all their
shades, color and variety; geraninms, fuchsias,
verbnas, roses, oXalis, alysSum, hyacinths,
crocus. &C. In the ornamental are good sDeci-
mems OF trtcolOr, Happy Thought, MacMahon
and Mountain-Of-Snew geraniums: also va
rieties of bogonia farfugium. ivies &C.
might farther enumerate, put would con-
tinue by saying that success can only be In
sured by constant attention; there is nothing
will sooner show evidences OF neglect than
window-plants; and by such treatment will
pearance. OF course there are circumstances
In our homes which are favorable and unfa-
voraDle TO the growthof plants; SO also there
are plants which are better adapted for growth
| in some rooms than others. These are lessons
to become acquainted with by the peculiarities
of plants; for, like people, they have their pc
coed nursing in sickness. This attention con-
SistS OF cleanliness light and air, also moder-
ate supply OF food. l might say farther, with
out care and prompt attention you cannot ex-
pect successful results. This observance Is I'M
perative If you would have healthy plants. We
VIII now proceed in detail with brevity: first
location. or situation, sunlight and ale are
three necessities for Towering plants. Make
choice of your window that gets the morning
sun, in which you may grow geraniums hello
trope, verDenas and varieties of tea roses. If
possible, choose a room for plant-culture that
has no direct flrc-heat, or in other words
room without fire, having access to one that
has, SO as to keep the plants as far as possible
from the direct influence of dry Temperature
A room in which the temperature never fails
below forty-five degrees by night, nor higher
than s1Xty-flve or seventy by day, will grow
plants OF robust habit, other essentials being at
hand, such as moisture, air and sun. If you
only have dry stove or furnace heat, provide if
possible for sufficient moisture by constant
evaporation from pan of water. When there
Is an open CRATE In the room this is not so i'm
portant, but Swinging and sponging are ne
cessary In this case. Gas also Is objection
ape; avoid its use, as 1t is fatal to delicate
plants and hurtful to the most hardy. Ii you
would have healthy plants avoid high temper
allure and over-crOwding.
Ventilation also must not be neglected, and If
possible from the top. as foul air always as
cendS and escapes, and by so doing you avoid a
direct stream of cold air on your plants, which
is injurious. Always also bear In mind that a
forced hardy plant will sooner suffer from the
eneCtS or cOld.after being forced than an exc
tic; of course some varieties OF greenhouse
plants will bear very cool treatment such as
primulas cyclamenS calceolarias cinerarias
&C.; also, some of the choice varieties of our
half-hardy evergreen shrubs Will bear rough
treatment with impunIty, and on this account
are desirable for Railways aud rooms where
light and other essentials are necessary for
plants OF more delicate growth, and on this ac-
count are desirable for such places. so that
there are plants to meet all the demands re-
quisite for the lovers Of the beautiful, of which
peri-winkle, tv1es, &c; the beautiful red Der
ried ard1sia, dracaena, draco and terminals.
also 6eaucarnia, auriearia nibar, &c. This list
may be increased as necessity requires.
will now refer to plants more specially
grown for the beauty Of their flowers, which
add so much to the beauty and attractiveneSS
of home, and In so doing will say few words
on potting; LIST, my advice is to use glazed
pots, for two reasons, l, as preventive Of dry
ness from evaporation; 2, for appearance, not
forgetting, however, to use broken potsherds
around the plants press it firmly, as there Is no
advantage in loose potting. Never re-pot
plants until the roots touch the pot or begin TO
curl around the inside of the pot. The con-
dition Of the roots is easily ascertained by
turning the pot upside down, striking the rim
gently and holding the ball of earth in the
other hand. The roots of plant by this
means may be occasionally examined and re-
turned to the pot without injury to the plant
Soil IS the next essential for consideration. Let
with the turf, made In heap from six to R Twelve
months before using. Clean river saH n de-.
cessary> In the ehsence Of soma ~ fbo no
Itnuid from COW, pnnra o vi a o1i.cohl.
latter hen1 The most deeiroito fr LIZ it Ilie
and teasnoonfri to aIpnn ~ ~ tot0uSu a'
Gent for Watering nurn5Ses to he mSad onna
or twice aWeek Chfs Fan siso ha safsiv uSed
for syrinGtnG or snonnino the n1an3 for tbI
nnrnose fWo teaspooSs fo a opiInn nr W, Tf,r'
# Is also an excelIent fertiizS for n,onts tTat
are NOT bonnd and wanted to cnntjn,Ipn IN hanitS
and bloom without re- nnttino " IL n0'1i0n
For mixture Of soil for n0ttinr for o,rera1
use would saw two narts loan one n,rt do
comnosed cow-mannre ono mart Ieor n1oia ND
one hart sand. FIR the desfrnctinn nf insa aHu
would suggest for green fiyS tobacco- SMOKE
to he encloSed with p1ants under hoY or h1rrai
benr carefIll not tn scnrcb the Mar hg baet'
two FIGHT smoEfnes in s1cceSsinp heina nra,ar
able t6 one Very stronG Cation hnaSs mpaTu
hug and scale 10 he DESTROYED Nv Wishing IN
warm soansuds with a very we5k So1ntinSS 81
coal-oil: red spider can he DESTROYED Nv fro
uuent syringii1gs water being certain Seath
Uaying Sn0Een If GENERAL treatment viii
proceed Go enumerate some VARIETIES nf 'rowar
inp-nIantS most sl1itahle for Observation-Disclosures
inc in addition IN those aireadv ment,6naS IT for
poff,,culture.NG ni1ms for A free fowern no.
Single varieties General Grant Tnc,uS Masts,,
Christine and Madama Nissan, Of the Innhia
yerietjes few will hloom in vi,tar 'u Asa IT,
being one Of the hest FOR fnehsiaS oro1, Tsy,
Halt the hast wtnter hloonoer. nanbS 81 od 80
is greenhonse everurcan deGightf , Toi r n.a