The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-02-02
Flowers in Winter.


Farmer (Boston) has very readable
article under the above title, from which
we copy the following, for the delecta-
ton of our lady readers:
In the cultivation of flowers in Win
ter in our sitting-rooms the same laws
must be obtained as in the culture of
flowers in the open ground There
must not be too much heat nor too little
sunshine. The soil must be rich and
sufficiently mellow. Moisture must be
controlled, and insects must be kept
from doing harm. AS blooming plants
cannot thrive even in Summer in adense
shade, so in Winter they will look weak
and puny if kept constantly in north
window. An east or west window
will do, but southern exposure will
give best results. During the short days
of Winter, south window will let in
none too much sunshine. The number
of plants must be governed by the
amount of sunlight one can afford to
give up to the flowers. Too many
darken the room and render iJ unpleas-
ant or unhealthful for the inmates for
whose pleasure they are grown.
A few choice plants, well cared for,
will give much greater satisfaction than
q mass Of sickly leaves and vines, so
crowded as to darken the room in which
they are kept, for our window panes
should add to, rather than take from,
the attractiveness and comfort on either
side of window, and containing a
bright flower, or a single vine or two
trained around it. with plenty of warm
sunshine flowing back and giving cheer
to the whole room, gives charm like o
single rosebud to an otherwise plainly
dressed person. So in attempting the
cultivation of Towering plants inWinter,
do not attempt to do too much. If you
want q green house, then built green
house, but do not attempt to turn your
parlor into q winter garden.
There is no cheaper nor perhaps bet
ter way to stock up a.window garden
than to start slips or cuttings from the
plants in ones own grounds. The pur-
chased flowers are often grown to sell,
and do not improve very readily in new
quarters. A purchased plant never
gives half the pleasure and satisfaction
of one equally good specimen grown
under ones own care. In selecting va
rieties one should choose such as will
bear q considerable variation in tenn
perature, for it is next to impossible to
keep living-room or parlor ut q hot
house heat all the time during the twen-
ty-four hours. We should select, then,
such plants rs will do well in the tenn
perature we can easily maintain. A coal
fire burning day and night will enable us
to select from wider range than If we
must depend upon wood fires and old
newspapers and shawls for protection at
night. Outside windows screwed on the
window frames, leaving dead air space
between the sashes, are great protec-
ton against frost.
We have seen the finest show of Win
err blooming plants in Northern Ver-
mont farm houses, thus protected, that
we have ever seen anywhere and it was
less work to take care of them than it
would have been in rooms singlc-glazed
260 or 800 miles further South. 1t is
very desirable to have as even tenn
perature Us may be day and night,
though it should be a little lower ut
night, or when the sun does not shine.
Watering is very important part of
Winter gardening. Some water too Of
ten and too freely, while others give too
little, but the most common failing is in
watering too irregularly.
Watering is best done ut night, but
early in the day will do. Nature never
waters plants while the sun is shining.
We should learn lesson from her,
Neither does she often sprinkle with ice
cold water We should never forget to
temper that which we pour upon flow
ers, and expect to give them some of
our time. A successful feeder of hogs
is reported to have said that hog will
always do little better if the feeder
will stay and look at him little while
every time he gives the swill which is
doubtless in measure true. Flowers
will certainly do much better in houses
where the inmates love their pets, and
like to give them a little time and atten-
ton not absolutely called for.
1nAa