Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-08-10

DlUlSlUlC 0ut Va W.
in contact with, especial care must
be taken with the plants placed on
the veranda, or they will suffer
from lack Of water. One day OIL
sunshine and high, drying wind
will evapOrate more moisture from
the soil than three days Of cloudy
weather. Some plants should be
watered every day, such' for IN
stance, as fuchsias. These flowers
like plenty Of water at their ROOFS
and one days neglect may lead to
their dropping their buds They
should never be allowed to become
50 dry that they wilt. Geraniums
can endure a considerable degree
Of dryness, and one or two wilt
ings can he overcome without
much danger of a loss Of bloom
But then geraniums are the most
accommodating and least particular
plants we have, ard what a geranium
will undergo and hive through
woulI lie sure death to many more
delicate plants.
Especial care should be gwen TO
plants in vases and in hanging
baskets. They are generally so
EXPOSED 10 sunshine and drying
winds that they need a supply Of
water every day. The one great
reason why vases of plants are 50
generally failures is, that not bali
the water they should have is given
them. Usually a large mass OF
roots is crowded together, and
every root is ready to suck up
portion of water. An ordinary
amOnnt OF water may noisten the
soil, but the combined effects OF
sunshine, wind and root suction
soon exhausts the supply, and the
nlants become scorched and the
leaves drop. If the soil in the vase
is kept twoOr three inches lower
than its edges, and is not allowed
TO become baked, liberal supply
of water can be given every morn
ing. and the entire mass OF earth
can be saturated without much de-
law. What the vase will hold at
one time win be sufficient to pene-
trate the soil, but this supply
should be given every day. L once
knew lady who undertook the
cultivation of plants. She would
often forget to water them for days
together. When told that this
course of treatment was sure to re-
suit unfavorably, she said that
swhen she did water them. she gave
enough to make up for what they
had lacked. This system might
work in some branches of business,
but it Won't in Tcultivating flowers
There should be no periods Of ex-
trene drouth or moisture. Study
the requirements OF your plants
and when you have ascertaipcd
what they are, be regular in meet
ing them. / have no trouble in
growing vases full OF luxurlant
plants, but l do so by observing
three rules. l use only such plants
as will stand a strong sun. l see
that the soil is very rich, for in
order to grow a crowded mass Of
plants well, the soil must be rich,
or they will lack nounshment, and
then. / am careful to give liberal
and regular supplies Of water
When you have any reason to sus-
pect that the nourishment IN the
soil is falling, supply some in the
shape OF guano water, or Other
fertilizers. Hanging plants are
quite often allowed to suffer because
thep are not as convenient TO watel
as plants in pots on shelves o.
stands. Ny plan is TO dip them il
large tub of water, and let then
stand there until they are thorough.
soaked. In this way the plants are
kept clean and no showering il
necessary. 1t is much easier to
water them sufficiently by this
system than it is to pour it on the
surface. Plants in baskets can BIZ
kept luxuriant only by attending
TO their needs in this direction.
Eusx wsvs 4 N TulnrOVQ Soils