Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-28
THE CULTIVATION OF POT PLANTS BY
AMATEURS.
Directions and suggestions.

| In which he gave his audience the benefit
Of his own experience. He said 81 am under the
necessity OF combining myself to my own ex.
| peIience in their treatment-my failures an
| successes Some Is years or 80 ago 1t was my
| good fortune to become acquainted with gen.
| tleman-a professional for1St-WhoSe converse
| ton and readiness to give inform alton FIRST
| awakened In me an interest In the gro WITH OF
. lants, That has 6. Own rOna er aaa sLron ger
aTordIng many hours OF pleasure In ther
| study, and causing tbs spirit to offer silently
ahe prayer %, OF thanSsgyng to the Creator OF
| love to cheer and gladden. the heart and make
pleasant the journey OF life.
The man or woman who really delights In
| the cultivation OF plants, either In the garden
or conservatory, has no disposition to spend
time In gossip" After some felicitous remarks
upon the delights attendant upon tne cuittva-
ton OF pianis and the beneficial effects upon
The moral as Well as the physical nature, Sir.
Fowler proceeded as follows:
1.-THE question then That presents itself to US
Is how Can We successfully cultivate flowers.
TIE FIRST STEP
is In the preparation OF soil suitable to their
growth; neglect In this particular will surely
be followed by failure. would advise my
amateur friends to begin at once this very ne
cessary preparation by procuring quantity Of
SOD from an Old pasture, which may be- placed
Ia svme out OF the way corner OF the garden
until pretty thoroughly rotJed, so that it can
be chopped into nice nbrouS soil Next get a
half load OF sharp sand aud sufficient supply
OF well-rotted manure. Soil suitable to the
growth OF nearly all varieties OF plants may be
prepared by the admixture OF these Ingredients
IN quantities more or less OF each as experience
may demonstrate. Ii peat can be procured aud
added so much the better. Soil in which seeds
are TO be SOwn should be composed OF greater
part OF sand; peat and sand with little loan
Will make good soil for this purpose.
IN SOWING OF SEEDS
care should be taken not to plant too deep, just
covering the seed about twice their own depth,
Seeds Of Begonias. Gloscinias &C., which are
very small, should be soNn on the top of the
soil AFTER 1U has been thoroughly Watered.
After sowing the seed press the soil gently win
tie bottom Uf small Hover pot, then place q
glass over the seed-pot, which will assist In
mlnatiOn. In all subsequent Wauerlng3 care
must be taken not TO disturb the seed, UIl lne
watering should De done very gently.
THR CAUSE OF FAILURE.
The failure OF many In gro wing pot-plants
may be attributed IN a measure to the manner
of pottlng. We sometimes hear the inquiry:
How Is it your plants look so healthy and
bloom so Well while everything plant dies p
The reply could very properly De lna1e, You
Vur oUll irUIu any convenient spot, from
,o1r back lot, without regard TO It's nGness for
tn pup lse Intended. Niue is carefully pre-
pared. You place your plants Ia a very large
pot. Nine are il d coMparative.y sm Ill one.
lou have very carefully nlei the pot full OF
soil aud have 1T nicely sIoped upward from the
edge OF the pot 10 LIE STOCK OF the plant. so
that IL Is almost Impossible to have water
reach It's roots. Mine Is filled to Within an inca
or two OF the top OF the Pot, 50 that an aound-
aDce of water may be placed therein and per-
colate the soil and SO reach every rootieG OF
the plant Keep tho foliage OF your
plants clean, thereby 1nSuring health and
v1gor. The amateur who mas room for
the cultivation OF but a small number OF plants
is Interested In those that will yield the most
bloom, especially during the winter months. l
have named below some that In my oplnioa
will give general satisfacElo that are easy of
growth and proiuse boomers. First.
THE GALA LILY.
This old plant Is too we'll known to require any
extended notice. If the Ibis or tubers Of this
lily be ported In good soil about the middle of
September. and given liberal supply of water
at all times, 1t Will quickly start into growth
and give out its fine, large flowers from Decem-
Der To May. Manure water Is very beneficial 20
This plant After Al llowsring gradually With
OF decay, lay the pots on their sides and give
no further care until tim5 for reporting when
the tubers should be cieansed Of the old soil
and repotted into new. When grown in the
sitting room the leaves should have an occa-
sionat sponging to prevent the accumulation Of
dust.
THE CYCLAMRN
is one OF the finest winter blooming plants In
cultivation. and should be fayorite With all
They are easily grown from seed. Seed planted
winter, although they Will not be fully m 4.
tured until the second year. They appear to
be In their best condition when two years old.
After the seed has terminated, and the little
bulbs are tue slze OF small green pea. trans.
plant into other pots or boxes, leaving space
Tor growth. Transplant again In the fall
into single pots; flve-inch pot Is large enoush
for two or three year Old plant. After they
are done blooming, let the bulbs gradually dry
OIL and lie dormant during the summer months
giving no further attention than an occasional
"a W4tR ho hrro
from dry rot Some persons recommend that
they De Kept In growth all the sumner. / pre-
fer giving them rest: indeed. my experience IL
that they win not grow during the summer
months, except seedlings less than one year
old. They require good ioamy soil, with but a
small agsat o 6 Of sand and manure They give
ter part OF April. The Prlmula or
CHINESE PRIMROSE,
Is another fine winter blooming plant of easy
| growth. either from cutting or from seed. Seed
sown In June and July will make good bloom.
| ing plants by December. Care should be taken
| not 10 over water the plants, and to avoid wa
| tering the foliage II possible. Soil should be
freely mixed with peat aud sand. The Prlmuls
| ana Cyclamen both delight in moderate 81 AIDE
| and cool temperature.
GERANIUMs,
II planted In good s1il, Will give general salts
faction. Both the single and double varieties
| as now grown are very beautiful.
| IN THR CACTUS FAMILY
| there are many curious forms and handsome
lowers. They are also OF easy culture. They
should be planted in soil composed largely OF
| sand, old lime rubbish and loan. Give but lit
Tie water, except when making new CROWN. I
90 not water my cactus, except Epiphellun
Truncatum, which blooms in winter, from No
vember TO APRIL AS the spring advances
| give Moderate supply OF water, and am re-
warded by their ricd aud many coiored fioVers.
Many friends complain that their cactus viii
| make nice growth but do not flower. The
| wateied
IN WINTER BLOOMING BRGoNIAs
there are many varieties, but among all that ]
have grown none presents finer show than
the tuberous Begonia Fr9oellI, witch Is COW
, cred during the winter with it's large blooms of
dazzling scarlet It has been advertised as !
summer blooming variety, but think Lhat IA a
mistake. Those l have grown lie dorma ami
during the summer. and start into growth in
the fall They bloom IN winter and ripen their
| seed In February and March. l have at this
/ time q lot OF seedlings from aeed 0afharad