Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-29
.FLOtyers in Winter.

A late number of the New England
Farmer (Boston) has a very readable ar
ticle under the above title, from which the
following is extracted for the delectation
of lady readers: In the cultivation of
flowers in winter, in our sitting rooms,
the same laws must be observed as in the
culture of flowers in the ground. There
must not be too much heat nor too little
sunshine. The soil must be rich and suf-
ficiently mellow. Moisture must be con-
trolled, and insects must be kept from do
ing harm. AS blooming plants cannot
thrive, even in summer, in dense shade,
so in winter they look sick and puny if
kept constantly in north window. An
east or west window will do, but south
ern exposure will give best results.
During the short days of winter,
south window will let in none
too much sunshine. The num-
Der of plants must be governed by the
amount of sunlight one can afford to give
up to the flowers. Too many may darken
the room and render it unpleasant or IN
healthful for the inmates for whose pleas
ure they are grown. A few choice plants,
we'll cared for, will give much greater sat
isfaction than mass of sickly leaves and
vines, so crowded as to darken the room in
which they are kept, for our window
plants should add too, rather than take
from, the attractiveness and comfort of
our rooms in winter. A single pot on
either side of a window, and containing
a bright flower, or single vine or two
trained around it, with plenty of warm
sunshine flowing back and giving cheer to
the whole room, gives charm like
single rosebud to an otherwise plainly
dressed person. So in attempting
the cultivation of Towering plants
in winter do not attempt to do too much. If
you want greenhouse, then build a green
house, but do not attempt to turn your par
lor into winter garden. There is no cheap
or nor perhaps better way to stock up
window garden than to start slips or cut
tings from the plants in ones own grounds.
The purchased 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 varieties one should
choose such as will bear considerable
variation in temperature, for it is next to
impossible to beep living room or parlor
at dollhouse heat all the time during the
twenty -four hours. We should select
then, such plants as will do well
in the temperature we can
easily obtain. 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 onto the window frames, leaving
a dead air space between the sashes, are a
great protection against frost. We have
seen the finest show of winter blooming
plants in northern Vermont farm-houses
where, and it was less work to take care of
them than it would have been in rooms
single glazed 200 or 800 miles further
south. 1t is very desirable
to have as even a temperature az
may be, day and night, though it
should be little lower at night, or when
the sun does not shine. Watering is
very important part of winter gardening.
Some water toofoften and too freely, while
others give too little, but the most COM
mon failing is in watering too irregularly.
Some plants need a great deal of water,
while others should have but little. Self
draining pots, with loose gravel or some
thing of the kind in the bottom, are the
best, as they will let surplus through.
Standing water will rot the roots of any
but aquatic plants. The Gala lilly and
some others will live in it. Watering is best
done at night, but early in the day will do.
Nature never waters plants while
the sun is shining. We should fearn les
son from her. Nor does she often sprinkle
with ice cold water. We should not forget
to temper that which we pour npon ours in
pots. Finally, we must love our flowers,
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,
nd like to give them a little time and at
anton not absolutely called for.