Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-30
uousE AND GARDEN PLANTS.

HOUSE AND GARDEN PLANTS.
valuable Information rs to their
Culture.
At the meeting Wednesday night Of the Dis
trtct of Columbia Horticultural Society, Mr..
John T. C. Clark, one Of our most successful
herticulturists made the following interesting
address:
Mr., President:-In response to your invita-.
ton, and In Difference to the repeated demands
OF some OF our lady members for Information
relative to the cul tivatfon Of house and garden
plants, I have endeavored to embrace In the
following remarks few general directions for
followed feel assured will enable them to
achieve success In this refining and healthrul
employment.
nc is not expected, nor shall we attempt, to
give an elaborate treatise on plant culture on
this occasion. Our remarks Will be confined to
growing plants from seed, their after culture,
and the selection Of suitable plants for the
house and garden. The mere economist may
not realize the remunerative pleasures derived
from the cultivation OF flowers, yet, unless he
beauty. must acknowledge that they exert a
refining and Joyous influence far more -desira.
Bile than pecuniary profit In every plant we
from becoming weary OF the pursuit. one
source Of pleasure derived from the inquiry
into the structure and mode OF existence OF
plants. arises from the wonderful adaptation OF
all their parts 10 each other. The humblest
and simplest plant, If carefully examined, win
be found to display an organization as remark
ABLY and beautifully adapted to the functions
Independent of all other considerations, the
culture OF flowers is fertile source OF innocent
pleasure. There is, perhaps. no single occupa.
ton capable OF exercising such an advantageous
influence on the mind, and it will be found q
useful exercise to the mental faculties It may
be safely assumed that IL affords more to interest
and tnstruct.-more to refresh and relax the
mind,-than any other pursuit. AT every step,
wonders previously unsupported are to be seen.
The further We advance, the more We desire to
learn and perceive how much remains in store
for us.
SELECTING AND SOWING ssEp
AS it requires as much time and attention to
produce poor flower as good one, 1t Is true
economy to grow the best. The more beautiful
and finer the variety chosen, the greater Will be
the pleasure derived In the season of blooming.
Much depends on the selection of seed. The
choice and best only should be obtained; for
only nom these can SaIiSfa tory results be ex.
pected. Low.priced seeds are hazardous, and
should be avoided.
Among other causes OF failure In growing
plants from seed may be named imperfect SOW
Ing, excessive moisture. and the employment OF
too hot manures. To succeed In this operation
we must conform to the lessons nature teaches.
she sOWS the seed soon after they mature, In
fine. loose soil, where they are covered with
mould OF decaying leaves. and protected until
the rains and warmth OF spring cause them to
terminate and grow, and, In turn, produce
plants and flowers for succession.
All plants are sensible to the action OF nour-
ishment-air and highland will either thrive
Or langaish according to the application OF
these Sl1mulanta
For indoor culture, flower seed should be
sown In flower pots or shallow boxes three
inches deep, having open seams at the bottom
so the water can drain through quickly. The
soil should be mixture Of sand. leaf mold ana
light, rich garden loan, thoroughly incorpo-
pots or boxes being filled within half an inch of
the top, gently press the soil smooth and level
and sow the seed evenly over the surface and
sift just enough soil over the seed as will cover
them and no more. and give water sufficient
only to settle the soil over them. A small
water pot having very fine nose should be
should be kept In temperature as near sixty
degrees as possible, and supplied with water
only when the surface appears to be dry. II the
sou sou, oe DRY when sowing The seed It should be
boxes should be placed In light window fac.
ing the south or east AS soon as the plants
appear they require Careful attention. Too
when the weather Is pleasant ait should De ad-
m1tted. AS soon as the plants are large enough
20 handle they should be picked out and trans
planted In other pots or boxes about one inch
apart and placed IN the shade few days until
they are established. VIII IN large enough they
s snouia De, DE- again transplanted singiy into
for planting out In the garden.
For outdoor culture, nOwer-seed may be soTn
In the months OF April and May, Ii the soil is In
soon as the soil becomes dry and Is easily crum.
Died. Care must be taken not to SOW them too
close 1t Is preferable to SOW all Hae seed in the
house, as before described, as the rains and
heavy winds render the soil UNIT for the ger
m1nation OF very small seed.
one or The most frequent causes Of failure in
growing plants from setd Is in sowing them TOO
deep. Ii some varieties Of fioHer-secd such as
the Cypress Vine, Morning Glory and Others,
n 6e SOAKED IN u, warm water short time before
oelng planted, they Will terminate m1ch sooner.
THE SOIL OF THE GARDENS
should be In 8 friable and active state SO az
not to be liable to bake. To this cause may pe
attributed the diff ;ulty OF small Hover seed
surviving termination, and for delicate trans
planted annuais To make start. Fi3Ner bsis
should nave dry bottom, and an annual SUP
ply OF prepared compost, consisting OF well-roI
teo COW manure. leaf mold and ,Oi3, wnica
should De put into heap TO decay. and before
using thoroughly Incorporated.
WATERING.
The importance Of uniform attention to Wa
tering can only be learned by observation. To
omit single application, and ALLOW the young
plant germs from seeds to remain In q parched
state, or 100 frequent and indiScrimnate SUP.
ply, oiten leads to the eventual destruction OF
The whole.
SETTING OUT PLANTa
For setting out plants and particularly
young seedlings, CLOUDY or rainy weather
should be selected Injury TO the roots should
De carefully avoided. Large plants should have
their roots untaagled, aud planted somewhat
deeper than their original depth, held In an up-
rlgnt position, and the soil well worked In
among the TootS with the hands Having filled
up the hole, press with the feet the sides OF the
plant to keep II IN position; water, and stake
securely, avoiding the use OF tSine for that
purpose, as when wet 1t snrinks and cuts the
plant CToWding pants should be avoided. 1t
Is not only Injurious, but tends TO destroy the
Wnole beauty OF the garden AMI causes dill.
Guilty In working the ground.
SRIEcTIoN oP PIANTS
only such plants as possess superior merit
should be chosen, and these confined to the
Best varieties OF each class.
Assuming that most persons in making q
selection, VIII De governed bJ their own taste
We venture TO suggest That the old and reliabls
fayor1tes are worthy of consideration, and, In
our opinion, no collection can be complete
without them.
Among these we would mention the Sweet
Alyssum, Mignonette, Balsams, Petunias, YER
DenaS Z1DniaS, ASters Gera0iun5, DianChuS,
Pllox, Cypress vine, and Cocoa scan1ens. In
ADDITION 10 these, where the grounds are ample
Dahlias Glaciolas, and specimens OF decideous
ana other plants, will prove desirable.
The ROSE.
Chief among other requisite plants for the
garden is the queen OF Flowers, the Rose IL
possesses and unites In one charming whole all
the features which sing y characterize our other
popular favoriIeS-beauty and variety OF form
N,.ltc Mt mo- nd mi