The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-10-31
OUR HOUSE PLANTS.
Hints on Arrangements for the Win
ter Months.
boston Transcript

Now that the melancholy autumn days are
here, with falling leaves. and frowning skies,
the flower garden, withered and dishevelled
by frosty nights, fierce winds and drenching
rains, is no longer the attractive spot that It
has been since spring. 1t is true that some
OF the later and more hardy y1owers-dahlias,
martgoldS and naSturtiumS-yet make
brave show, and the chrysanthemums are
still waiting to be c0axed into perfect bloom
by the sun, that shows himself these latter
days to be anything but persistent and ar
dent w00er.
But while inclement weather keeps us
prisoner within doors, waiting and longing
for the Indian summer, we may find pleasure
In selecting and arranging the plants that
snail refresh our eyes with green foliage and
bright blossoms, when winter holds stern
sway without. The space that can be set
apart for house plants in most homes is so
small in comparison with the Out-of-dcor
garden that it becomes matter of no little
difficulty to decide which plants to take in
and which to leave to the fate that must
inevitably oyertake them in the garden as
the. days become shorter and the nights
colder.
The stately Gala at the first hint Of au-
tumn's coolness, was taken from the shaded
corner where it had made such vigorous
growth since spring, carefully potted, and
placed in cool room. Now 1t is brought
forth and given the place of honor MANY
persons think that the Gala will blossom
better through the winter If it is left dry in
the cellar during the summer. But II Il is
set out in a shady place in the garden, and
given abundant water daily the bulb will
increase rapidly and the leaves grow man.
moth in size. When first taken from the
garden it should be left in coolness and
shadow for few weeks, till the roots get
accustomed to the changed condition. Then
IL may be placed in sunny window, aud
very soon buds will appear, and the superb
white blossoms will open one after another
through the winter and spring.
The geraniums that for so many weeks
have frightened the borders with gorgeous
masses of color will bloom with equal free
dom the latter part Of the winter making the
window where they are placed attractive to
the passers-by. When all are beautiful it is
hard to make a choice. There must be rose
geranlum for its fragrance and silver-eaf
and Nine. Pollock for their fine foliage
BY the middle of November the great gera-
NUNS that are too large for the window may
be taken up and the earth shaken from their
roots and hung up in dark, cool cellar
Life Will remain in the roots and stalks, and
II they are set out again in the middle Of
May they will soon put forth new leaves and
buds. The foliage of many begonias is so
beautiful that the plants are attractive even
when not in bloom Several varieties bloom
freely in winter, one very lovely, with dark
foliage and coral red flowers. Those that
bloom constantly in the garden in summer
will not be likely to flower in winter.
The gloxinia is plant that is deservedly
becoming popular favorite. 1t is an inter-
esting plant in more respects than one Il
has beautiful velvety leaves, and great droop-
Ing flowers OF various hues, one Of the hand
soonest varieties being waxen white with a
rose-tinted throat. Each flower clings to its
stem N unfading beauty for many days be-
fore falling. 1t has a mode Of repro
uction that is singularly interesting
You fall into raptures over the plant of
friend adorned with countless beautiful
bells. She cuts off green leaf and gives
you, telling you to place it in water and it
will root. You try the experiment, half in
credulous. The leaf is placed In vase of
water; in time pair of tiny leaves appears
at the base of the stem a little root is seen;
you set 1t out very carefully, leaving the par
ent leaf to feed with its substance the young
plant while longer. BY and by the old
leaf withers and falls. The new plant needs
1t no more, but sends out leaves constantly,
increasing in size, and In q few months IL Is
adorned with blossoms. 1t will not do to
set the gloXinia in the garden in the summer.
Rain turns the foliage black, and it soon
withers and dies.
Few plants are more satisfactory In the
winter than the Chinese primrose and cycla-
men. They require little care and are con-
stantly in bloom. They will thrive in a
warm, dry place near stove or radiator,
where many other plants will be shrivelled
and stunted in growth. The partridge aloe
and varieties of cactus will also grow well
in situations too dry for most other plants
Whatever favorites are excluded from our
collection for lack OF space, room. must GER
tainly be found for the spicy lemon verbena,
and for the heliotrope that blossoms so
freely and yields so lavishly its delicious
fragrance.
1t is difficult to conceive of drawing
room ornament more beautiful and attractive
than pot of maiden-hair fern ON a small
table, for ferns must not be massed with
other plants, but must be allowed ample
space If their entire loveliness is to be re-
vealed. If the fern has favorable location
in cool north window, it will, with little
care, develop into symmetrical, !globular
mass Of the most exquisite foliage imagina-
BILE. 1t will be a mosaic of all shades of
green blending into a most harmonious
whole. A very beautiful and very interest
ing fern is the Asptenilna bulbiferum. This
is a native Of New Zealand. On the upper
surface of its long feathery dropping frOnds
grow little eafy bulbs. When one is suffi-
ciently mature to live apart from the frond
on which it grows, it may be easily detached
by passing the hand gently over it, The
parent plant, bearing here and there these
tiny baby ferns, each clinging fast to its
nttle brown cradle, Is charming revelation
of Natures resources.
Few plants contribute more to the adorn-
ment of home than the English ivy. This
will transform plain bare room into a veri-
table bower; for, though it grows slowly,
the leaves remain on the stem for years.
The Ivy will grow for long time in water,
and slips placed in bottles concealed behind
pictures may be trained around and above
them. The ivy is particularly lovely on
white or light tinted walls. II pot be
placed on low brackett on either side of
the door leading from the hall into the recep-
tion room, the embowered door will express
a more gracious and acceptable welcome TO
the stranger entering in than any illuminat-
ed motto conceivable.