Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-03-01
9aaies' Column.
GROWING PLANTS In THE
HOUSE.

of articles on the above named topic.
which will be of interest to most of our
lady readers. The growing of plants is
becoming more and more vogue and
anything that relates to the subject will
be of Importance to many:
Some of you may ask whether plants
In rooms are detrimental to health.
Speaking from my own experience, |
must say they are not. have even had
my bedroom windows crowded with
plants during the whole winter. 1t
must be observed, however. that some
persons have very delicate and suscepti-
BILE nervous systems, and cannot endure
even the delicate fragrance of the Rose.
Such persons may be injured by, or suf-
fer great inconvenience from, fragrant
flowers. | have known some such per-
sons, however, to receive much pleasure
from the cultivation of inodorless flow
ers Aside from such cases, know of
no injury likely to arise from growing
plants in rooms but | know of a great
deal of solid comfort and pleasure.
Thus much on the score of injury to
the health of the grower. l will turn
next to the conditions best adapted to
the health of the plants. Since the gen.
eral use of hot-air furnaces and base
burning stoves, the difficulties of grow
ing plants in rooms have been much in
creased. In parting with the fire on the
hearth and the woodworking stove, we
parted with good deal of pure, healthy
air. But we must make the best of it,
and have recourse to ventilation, and
open windows and doors in connection
with some expedients to be hereafter
noted.
In regard to exposure "a room fac
ing the south is the best; next, east /;
next, west; and last, north. There are
some plants that are very we'll adapted
to either of these exposures, which will
be mentioned in their turn. There are
some accessories" which are almost in
dlspensable. A barrel or two of good
soil should be put in the cellar, and not
left out-of-doors. The best soil for gen.
eral purposes is rotted sod. A good
outfit would consist of rotted sod, Leaf
mold from the woods, old, well-rotted
manure, and sharp sand of any kind, ex
cept sea sand. If rotted sod cannot b.
had, get the best soil you can for you
can make it good enough with the othe
, materials.
Next, something to stand the plant
on. Have box made 3 IL feet long
2 IL feet wide, and three or four inche
deep, and, if convenient, lined with zinc
= Place this on table. and fill it wit
d clean sand, which should be kept moist
: This will promote cleanliness as we'll a
+ the health of the plants. 1t will be
}. great convenience to have the table ftte
: with rollers, not only for rolling it bac
= on cold nights, but for handling tn
;, plants when necessary to change or clea
q them. There is no necessity for saucer
r on this sand table; but, if used, the
D. should be inverted, except under Call;
1t and similar water-loviDg plants. Wit
IS this arrangement, the plants can be fir
a quently syringed, which not only keel
d them healthy and clean, but measurabl
Dr. prevents the accumulation of red spid,
" aud some other insect pests. The DIR
es is absorbed by the sand, and no har
ID is done to the carpet. The moist sar
st table has another advantage; the eva
&c grafton that slowly but constantly tax
ye place from its surface, greatly promot
te the health of the plants. Perhaps Il
gs ladies will admit that vaporizer is
n. good thing to have. The plants thir
ne so, and so do |.
IS 1 can only allude briefly to the u
en- and composition of soils. Rotted so
d. reduced with more or less sand, is WI
ly adapted for most kinds of plants.
h the absence of rotted sod, good col
nd post may be made of any common so
ad leaf mold, and sand, to which should
it added, if convenient, a little well-rott
he manure. If you have no manure, tn
Ter drop in the water occasionally lump
nd carbonate of ammonia or few drops
1t hartshorn. Do not at any time I
ct guano, either IN the soil or in the wat
of For the Cactus and succulents genera
wo the soil should be light and sandy.
of In regard to watering, do not ha
lou any set time for this, but water pla
..t whenever it needs it, or as soon as I
II soil get dry on the surface, and th
be give it enough to 60 quite through
for ball of earth. Plants like the Cal
me however, should be kept constantly W
r. A plant in bloom needs more water th
ne when not in bloom; plant in a d
of mant condition needs less than WI
Ter growing; and some plants, when d
oy mant, Gala and Amaryllis. for exa
wo ple,) require to be kept quite dry.
the would take too much time to class
these plants here. A good brass syrir
49,. with duplicate roses, is quite necel
ON ty. A watering pot about nine inc
| 1aan eauan iooboe - J;o,,1o. IL