The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-02-24
Oheap Parlor Plants,

For room decoration why do not pco-
| pie take some hardy things that do not
mind heat or frost or drought or flood
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 require
much light and great re--things
which even a florist with all his skill
can scarcely grow-are taken i'm hand,
and thus people very often fail of sue
cess. OF course after making close
acquaintance with plants and learning
their little whims and fancics and just
how to humor them in those little
niceties that they set their hearts upon,
the parlor gardener can do as well.as.the
greenhouse gardener, and often much
better. If, however, the harder things
are taken, success is certain without
much anxiety or care, and one ean
practice on them until they are able to
care for the more delicate things.
Among the best of these old-fashiOn-
ed 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 as they are, they give
no idea of the great beauty which a
plant of several years age presents. We
have seen some grown in moderate
sized tubs six or seven feet high and
trained over wires so as to make backs
to seats or even little arbor like cover
ings or alcoves, admirable for standing
in wide entrys 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 a dreary room look like living
bower, or a room adorned by the high
est art look all the lovelier for the in
cursion of beautiful Nature on her espe-
cial domain.
One of the prettiest effects imagina-
BILE can be produced by training the
long plant vines of the English ivy
upward on the sides of windows, the
deep green leaves contrasting finely
with the white lace curtains, and
branching off can be arranged artistic
ally over picture frames and other
objects.
We have seen the ivy in just these
conditions frequently, and wonder why
the successful example is not catching.
We suppose it must be simply a 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 pleasurablc impression and only
remembering them when chance throws
us in the way Of seeing them again.
The time is now coming when prepar:l-
ton may be made for these sort of
things. The young ivies should be
potted in the spring in good garden
soil, and after II gentle reminder that
: nxrnnf.fnI tn f,.ornl rnwarl bx
being tied to u stout stake set in the
center of the pot, set out in partial
shade to grow. 1t will need to have
lust the same watering and just the
same general culture rs ordinary plants,
and by fall will be large enough for
some show the same winter But it is
the second season and afterward that
the great beauty of the ivy will be seen,
and it is just these three or four-.year-
old plants that people very seldom see.
How dearly we should like to see
couple of pots of ivy in everybody's
winter home, and especially in the
homes of the poor. We read ever year
in the daily papers of some individuals
at Christmas givin" away loaves of
bread tc the poor. This may be well
enough in its way, though ii is looked
on often rs a huge joke and the loaves
tossed about in fun, and though it is at
other times merely u dodge for cheap
advertising by some trader who thinks
himself sharp in thus cheating pub
Usher of five dollar bill. we are will
ing to believe that some do it from good
motives and that some return genuine
thanks for timely relief; but if some
one would distribute few hundred of
we'll grown ivy to the poor and ignorant,
not to say the vicious, at this generally
cheerful time, we believe an immense
amount of pleasure would be given to
class who know not what rational
pleasure is, and no doubt other good
would follow. -Ge,mdntOacR Telegraph.