The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-11-27
CHEAP PARLoR PLANTS.

For room decorations why do not
people take some hardy things that do
not mind heat or frost or drought or
aood-that is If none of these things
come in too great extremes. There are
such things; but instead of looking for
them, tender greenhouse things that re-
quirc much light and great care-things
which even the florist with all his skill
can scarcely grow-are taken in hand.
and thus people very often fail OF sue
cess. or course after making 4 close
acquaintance with plants and learning
their little whims and fancies and jus,
how to humor them in those little nice
ties that they set their hearts upon, the
parlor gardener can do rs well rs the
greenhouse gardener, and often much
better.
II, however, the harder things are
taken, success is certain without much
anxiety or care, and one can practice
on them until they are able to care for
the more delicate things.
Among the best ofthesc old-fishioncd
plants easy to grow in sunshine or shade
there is nothing so good as the various
varieties Of English evergreen ivy. As
usually seen in pots on street corners,
pretty rs they are, they give no idea of
the great beauty which plan, of sever
al years old presents. We have seen
some grown in moderate sized tubs six
or seven feet high and trained over
wires so as make backs to seats or even
little arbor-likc coverings or alcoves,
admirable for standing in wide entries
or halls. They may be trained up in
pots high enough and thick enough to
cover window frames entirely, not only
up the sides but round and over tops,
making what is usually dreary room
look like living bower, or a room
adorned by the highest art look all the
loyelier for the incursion of beautiful
Nature on her especial domain.
We have seen the ivy in just these
conditions frequently and wonder why
the successful example is not catching.
We suppose il must be simply 4 want OF
forethought. We see and admire and
resolve that we will do likewise; but We
leave these fairy spots and get into the
rushing busy world, forgetting the
pleasurable impressions and only re-
membering them when chance throws
us in the way of seeing them again.
The young iyies should be ported in
the spring in good garden soil, and
after 4 gentle reminder that they are
expected to travel upwards by being
tied to I stou, sake set in the centre OF
the pot, set out in partial shade to grow.
IL will need TO have just the same wa
tering and just the same general culture
as ordinary plants, and By Fall will be
large enough for some show the same
Winter. But il is the second season
and afterwards tina; the great beauty OF
the ivy will be seen. and it is just these
three or four-year-old plants that peo-
pie very seldom see.
How dearly We should like TO see 4
couple OF pots Of ivy in everybody's
winter-home, and especially in the
houses Of the poor. We read every
year in the daily papers OF some indi-
viduals at Christmas giving away loaves
OF bread to the poor. This may be
well enough in its way, though it Is
looked on often as huge joke and the
loaycS tossed about in fun, and though
II IS At other times merely dodge for
cheap advertising b. some trader who
thinks himself sharp in thus cheating :
publisher Of five-dOllar bill, We are
willing to believe that some do i, from
good motives and that some return
genuine thanks for timely relief; but if
some one would distribute Il few hun
dreds Of well-grown ivy to the poor and
ignorant, not TO say the vicious, at this
generally cheerful time, We believe al
immense amount Of pleasure would be
given to 4 class who know not what
rational pleasure IS, aad no doubt other
good would follow.