Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-02-02
FLOWERS IN WINTER,
OrnamentatiOn OF Homes aud Ann usc-
memt for the Ladies'.

=
A late number of the Nov Engla,,
Farmer Boston) has very readable nj
ticle under the above title, from which W
copy the following, for the delcctation g
our lady readers
In the cultivation OF flowers in wintc
IN our sitting rooms the same laws mus
be observed MS in the culture of flowers il
the open ground. There must not be to
much heat nor too little sunshine. TIL
soil must be rich and sufficiently mellow
Moisture must be controlled, and insect
must be kept from doing harm. A
blooming plants can not thrive even il
summer in n dense shade, so in winte
they will look weak and puny if KEEP
constantly in north window. An ems
or west window will do, but q southern
exposure will give best results. During
the short days of winter n 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 flowers Too many NAV dark-
en- the room and render it unpleasant or
unhealthful for the inmates for whose
pleasure they are grown.
A few choice plants, well cared for, will
give much greater satisfaction than n
mass of sickly leaves and vines, so crowd
ed rs to darken the room in which they
are kept, for our window panes should
add to, rather than take from, the at
tractiveness and comfort ..of our rooms in
winter. A single pot on either side of
window, and containing 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 mn
otherwise plainly dressed person. So in
attempting the cultivation of Towering
plants III winter, do not attempt to do too
much. If you want greenhouse, then
build greenhouse, but do not attempt
to turn your parlor into winter gar
den.
There is no cheaper nor perhaps better
way to stock up window garden than to
start slips or cuttings from the plants in
ones own grounds The purchased flow
ers 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 eoually
good specimen grown under ones own
care. In selecting varieties one should
chosse such as will bear considerable
variation in temperature, for it Is next to
impossible to keep living room or par
lor at hothouse heat all the time during
the twenty-four hours. We should Sc
lect, then, such plants as will do well in
the temperature we can easily maintain.
coal fire burning day and night will en-
able us to select from wider range than
If we must depend upon wood fires and
old newspapers and shawls for protection
mt night. Outside windows screwed on
to the window frames, leaving dead air
space between the snshcs, are great pro-
lection against frost.
We have seen the finest show of win
ter-blouming plants in northern Vermont
tarm-houses, thus protected, that we
nave ever seen anywhere and it was less
work to take care of them than it would
have beon i'll rooms single glazed 200 or
300 miles further south. II is very desi-
rable to have AS even temperature rs
may be, day and night, though it should
be little lower at night, or when the
sun does not shine. Watering is n very
important part of winter gardening. Some
water too often and too freely, while 9th
ers give too little, but the most common
falling is i'll watering too irregularly |
Some plants need a great deal of water,
while others should have but little. Self |
Training pots with loose gravel or some
thing OF the kind Mt the bottom are the
best, as they will let II surplus through. |
water will rot the roots of any |
but aquatic plants. The calls lily and
some others will liv, 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 learn lesson from her.
Neither does she often sprinkle with ice
,old water. We should never forget to |
.emper that which We pour upon ours in |
pots. Finally, we must love our flowers,
,nd expect to give them some of our time.
A successful feeder of hogs is reported |
% have said that II hog will always do n
little better if the feeder will stay and
ook at him little while every time he |
gives the swill, which is doubtless in a |
measure true Flowers will certainly do |
much better i'll houses where the inmates
owe their pets, and like to give them Il
little time and attention not absolutely |
'alled for.