The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-01-20
Ivy Culture In the House.

The following hints on window cult
ure of the ivy vine are from various
authorities on the subject:
The journal of Horticulture says that
the use of English ivies for the purpose
of decorating living rooms is more ex-
tensive every year, and cannot be too
highly commended. Being very strong
they will live through any treatment:
but study their peculiarities and mani
fest willingness to crafty them, and
they will grow without stint. Most
houses are not too hot for them, as, in
deed, they are for their owners. Neither
plants nor people should have thetem-
perature over sixty-five degrees Fahr-
enheit. Take care not to enfeeble your
ivies by excessive watering or undue
heat, and you will see they will not
seem to mind whether the sun shines
on them or not or in what position or
direction you train them. Indeed, SO
much as they do themselves to make
the room charming, that we would
rather have an unlimited number of
them to draw upon than anything else
in the nature of art.
Do you wish the ugly, plain door that
shuts off your tiny entry to your parlor
to be arched or curved like those in the
drawing rooms of our richer neighborsP
Buy a couple of brackets, such as lamps
for the burning of kerosene are some
times placed on and screw them in the
sides of the door. Put in each a plant
of English ivy, the longer the better,
then train the plants over the top,
against the sides, indeed, any way your
fancy dictates. You need not buy the
beautiful but costly pots the flower
dealer will advise; the common glazed
ones will answer every purpose, for by
placing in each two or three sprays of
Coliseum ivy, in months time no
vestage of the pot itself can be dis
cerned through their thick screen.
A writer in the Ameracdn Cuitirdtor
says: =" While visiting my old home the
past summer l made many calls, and
among them one to a lady who is noted
throughout the village for the beauty of
her ivies. never saw any more lovely.
Though comparatively young plants
they were stalky, while the leaves were
dom seen outside the greenhouse.
IL asked her, after having admired
the plants sufficiently, what is the Sc
cret of YOUR successp' She assured me
that it was no secret, adding, put q
piece of beefsteak at the roots every
spring and fall, and this is the result
But does not the odor of decaying
beef annoy YOUR
". 1t never has, and why should iii
Won't people fill the pots half full of
stable richness and never even think of
offensive odors?"'
"On my return to Worcester I put
some steak-a piece perhaps two inches
thick-under the roots of my ivy, and
in a week or two it began to run, and
has grown very rapidly ever since"
Now, perhaps other decaying ma =
ter would do as well, but 1 can tru y
recommend the steak as having been
tried. Many say too much richness will
kill the plant, but know from expert
ence that vines, all kinds of ivies, air
plants and maderias cannot have too
much. Use mixed dressing, such as
has been made ready for the garden,
two-thirds of this and one of common
earth, and your vines will grow rank
and beautiful, astonishing you with large
leaves and stout stems"
A lady writer says, Each leaf is
rubbed on both sides with sweet oil,
and after the pots are put in place, one
on each side of the folding doors, the
vines are carefully trailed and secured
by small strings and tacks to the wood
work. The branches of the vines on
the opposite side of the arch are inter-
laced as they meet, SO that no division
is apparent. The earth in the pots is
watered daily.
Mrs. p. oils the leaves of both of
her large vines in three or four hours,
by simply moistening her fingers in oil
and lightly rubbing each leaf on both
sides at the same time. She is amply
repaid hy the entire absence of mould
or whiteness from the leaves, and the
fresh vigorous appearance of the plant,
Notwithstanding its exposure to furnace
heat and gas, usually prejudicial to par
lor plants"
If ivy plants that have been kept in
doors during the winter be put in the
ground the north side of the house for
the summer, they will be benefited by
the change. Such treatment renews the
strength of the plants, making them
better for house-culture the following
winter. The ivy is so hardy that it will
bear being put out of doors very early
take the plants out of the pots, but to
plunge" them. A little common lime
put under them serves to keep the earth
worms out. When ready to remove ivy
plants to the house in autumn. replant,
if necessary, but in pots only size
larger than those they are taken from.
The scale insects that sometimes infests
these and other hard-wooded plants can
be destroyed by washing in soapsuds,
but they must be rinsed Immediately
after in a clear, soft water. The ivy
must be kept free from dust, to preserve
the rich gloss of its leaves. Ivy plants
should have the support of trellises. to
which they can easily be trained in any
way to suit the taste.-BOston Tran
script.
..~x. 1~~ .~~oI-o