The semi-weekly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1879-1882, 1882-01-16
FARM NOTES

more popular every year. lne tlme
was not many years ago when plants
in hanging pots were rarity. A
window in plain room now scarcely
looks complete without a hanging
basket filed with plants, and many
who do not pretend to cultivate
flowers extensively will have at least
one such basket.
The important problem for the
cultiyator il what varieties are best to
select. / have had success with the
money plant called by some brides
myrtle. | commenced with small
slip, planted it in a two-quart can,
and after few branches had grown
I cut them of, placing them in the
earth, and after about six branches
rooted / allowed them to grow until
they had come to the bottom Of the
can. Then each end was nipped of
and branching was commenced, and
and its appearance was very crafty
Ing. Every day it was showered and
watered, and this is about all the care
hanging baskets need. The soil in
which this plant is grown should not
be stirred at all after the plants get
well started, as it breaks the running
roots that shoot out on the branches.
The wandering jew or tradascantia is
generally favorite, yet some think
it too common to cultivate, but those
who are acquainted with its merits
cannot help admitting that it is Of
easy culture, only requiring plenty Of
water. One reason it is liked is be-
cause it grows SO well in the shade
and is nice to plant in little wall
pockets hung behind pictures. The
German or parlor ivy is an excellent
hanging pot plant, if kept pinched off
SO as to grow bushy and thick. This
grows well in sun or shade. For a
hanging basket in a north window
nothing is better than Kenilworth
ivy. The reason some do not sue
coed in growing it is because they
hang the plant where the sun shines
on it which is apt to make the plant
60 to seed and it soon runs out.
The Chinese strawberry, which
bears its little fruit, is great favor
lite with many. The smilax has been
and always will be great favorite.
The ivy geraniums are becoming quite
popular now, as well they should be.
Holly wreath, having light rose
flowers in large clusters, the leaves Of
the plant being green with broad
yellow margin, is my favorite Of all
the ivy geraniums. Morning glories
l have seen recommended for hanging
baskets, but somehow they always
seemed ont Of place to me in the
house. Nasturtiums growing in bask-
cts in the house, With their handsome
flowers, look very attractive.
Nice plants for baskets are the
oxalls. 1t is not we value the rarest |
plant the most, but generally the one
that with fair treatment bears the
most flowers, and one Of these is the |
pink oxalls. It has afforded me much
pleasure. At one time it was one Of |
the few hanging plants that were in |
bloom, and it continued for weeks to |
throw out its pretty flowers. A nice
way to grow basket plants Is to have
one kind In . pot, and when the |
branches have got few feet long tie |
under the pot, then divide the branch |
es in two, and tie them in the shape |
Of q wreath. Oobea scandens is |
always admired as basket plant, and |
its beautiful bill-shaped flowers add
much to its beauty.
A novel hanging basket I once
made in the following way: A wire |
basket was lined with moss, filed with |
good soil, and board was tied on
over the top of the basket to keep
the soil in. It was turned upside |
down and rooted. Cuttings of differ |
emit colOred bloom of portulacca plant |
were placed here and there in the
moss. After they had got well start
ed the board was taken off and wan
dering jew planted in the top, and
for weeks the portulacca grew and
bloomed. Some ferns and lypocodium
are nice for baskets for shaded win
dow.
Basket plants, of all others, should
grow luxuriantly, as they seem more
exposed than plants which are placed
on stand or on window shelves.
Plants suspended in the windows dry
out faster and require more water
than shelf plants. If plants are dip
ped in a pail of lukewarm water every
other day the foliage will be kept
green, and this is very easy way of
watering them. IF you have not a