The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-03-14
Hanging Basket.
Writer in Vick's Monthly.


Hanging pots and basket seem to
have come into almost universal use the
past few years. These are usually Of
e]arthenware, wire-work or rustic work.
Those of earthenware which are glazed
or painted are not considered by some
to be as healthy for the plants as those
that are unglazed, since the moisture
cannot escape through the sides of the
pot, but l find by being very careful not
to oyerwater, | can keep plants in them
in a healthy condition. Baskets of wire
work are apt to drip more Or less, and
they seem more suitable TO hang beneath
a porch or piazza, in summer i like
best those of rustic work, where a variety
of plants are to be grown together.
They can be bought at very reasonable
prices, or, where economy is desirable,
may be manufactured at home. t.
Ny rustic basket had been used for
years, and had decayed past all hope of
repair, so i told John that he might
make me m some rainy day, adding
that a nice one the size / wanted would
cost about 81. well" said he, II
wouldn't pound my fingers nor vex my
soul for twice that I'd rather buy youa
new one." "All right, thank you, . said
i. and in due time the new one APP
peared, l had slips and plants already
started for it, and tie last of September
/ proceeded to fill it. | use the same
soil for basket plants that | do for
others, first putting in broken charcoal
at the bottom with a handful of o
over it. The charcoal serves as a fer
tilizer and purifiers and also absorbs
the surplus moisture, giving it out
again when needed All hanging bas-
kets should be turned every few
days, and should be sprinkled with,
tepid water once a week, twice a
week would be better, as
tine atmosphere where they
hang is much dryer and hotter than that
surrounding the plants on the stands
beneath, consequently they Willie more
liable to SITTER from attacks of the red
spider. | believe in immersion for
them, aswater, water, water, is the only
remedy; they dislike moisture.
/ like to water my plants and baskets
as early as convenient in the morning,
using warm water, and toward spring /
give them, once a week, a drink of barn
yard tea, about the color of weak cot
fee, being careful not to give it too
strong, or too often. For i rustic ,ss-
ketg a foot or more in diameter, one
needs something SNOWY and graceful
for the cedser, as well as a little taller.
A crimson dracana is good for this pur-
pose, so, too, is the white-edged green
variety. ! have sometimes used a
bright coleus, but il needs constant
pinching OF it Will grow too talIs
Around the center may be grouped
ferns, with q rich begani.l or two, a
bright foliaged geraniHm, with iYies or
mauranddya to run up Che handles, and
lobelia, musk, yinca, t~radescantia, etc,
to drOop over the sides,
i~nterspersed with sednm, wan
dering jew, pauicum, variegatnm
an Ita7an grass. Coliseum ivy is very
pretty growing in a large sea-shell sus-
pended from the window, and the pretty.
free flowing small oxalis is fine, and
looks and thrives best by itself. Last
winterI planted the yellow oxalis In the
same pot with the large pink variety,
and they were pretty grown together
MS the SPRAYING habit of the former
was well hidden by twining its long
stalka among the stout foliage and
bright blooms Of the large pink oxalis
and the colors harmonized finely A
| plant of the ivy-leaved geranium, peler
ggnte, ii very attractive, with its pea
green leaves edged with white, offer
tinted with carmine. and is an Ornament
to aDygroom.