The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-10-23
HOUSEHOLD AND FARM.
IangInr-Plant Baskets
by {. 4. MAGICIAN.

A few wellarranged hanging baskets are
among the most beautiful ornaments for the
decoration Of the house in winter. No other
method of arranging the class Of plants used
for this purpose combines more artistic or
beautiful effects. The plants required are for
The greater part simple and easily grown, and
the baskets, il circumstances do not permit,
need not be expensive. When desired, very
neat and suitable baskets may be provided at
home. The materials are simple and easily
obtained Very tasteful and inexpensive ones
fully durable enough for one season-can be
made of round berry baskets, with solid bot.
toms, covered with rustic wood bark or fan
ey knots. These will do for small ones. Lar.
ger ones may be made Of anything suitable to
hold the covering. Wooden bowls are largely
used by makers of rustic work, and are much
more durable than berry baskets. The ordin-
ary wire hUrse.muzZe may DC used az a hang
ingbasket If desired. In making wooden
baskets the parts should be well OILED before
putting together and enc or two coats OF var
nIsh given to the outside As finish The
handles may also be made of rustic wood.
The present time Is good one to fill hang.
ing baskets for winter, Good friablc soil that
will not pack too much should be used Let
The plants be young and thrifty, and pot-grown
if possible, but the root should not be too much
bound. After planting, keep the baskets pref
" well shaded until new roots are formed,
when they may be exposed to the sun, but IN
summer We would not recommend too free an
exposure to the sun and winds rs il Will be
apt to lnjure the freshness OF the plants. The
variety of plants used for filling hanging bask.
cts is very large. Anything that taste may
suggest, selected from the immense variety
used tor this purpose, is suitable. Baskets
allied with plants Of single kind are very
handsome If the growth Is thrifty, and any OF
the free growing dropping sorts are suitable
for such baskets. Where several kinds OF plants
are used erect, growing ones should be used
for centres and the dropping ones for the sides.
For centre plants geraniums-thoseo OF fancy
leaf markings, such as Happy thought Mrs
Pollock, Mt. of Snow, etc. ctc-are prettlest.
Coeus Qhe newer varieties are much the lin
est Begonlas, AChyranthes, &c, &c, are used.
For dropping plants the variety is much great
er, among which are Ivics of various kinds,
SmilaX, Lohelia, Pancum Variegatum, Sc
dunn, Konlga Martina, (variegated Sweet
Alyssum,) Pylogre Suavis, Othonna Crassitol-
ia, Crassula Spathulata, Dew Plant, Russelia
,Iuncea, etc. In filling baskets select rather
tall plants in preference to dwarf for centres,
as they show off, when the baskets are hung
up to much better advantage. The practice
Of covering the soil with moss after the work
is finished is good one.
In regard to watering hanging baskets an
exchange says, to immerse them IN tub OF
water This is an excellent plan, as the
roots are thus thoroughly saturated, which
cannot be so easily done IN any other way.
Whatever kind of basket is used, be sure that
it gives good drainage. &C.,, " H., sept,
32d, 1880.