Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-04-16
THE GARDEN.
seasonable Hints


One cause OF failure to secure blooms
is injudlcious watering, deluging at one
time and WITHHOLDING at another, and
paying no attention to the needs OF the
different varieties. The appetites and
needs of plants are as varied as those
OF people, and their temperaments differ,
too; there are the sanguine, the sensitive,
| the phlegmatic, each requiring to be
dealt with accordingly. While one plant
will thrive, Notwithstanding the utmost
neglect, and subsist on almost nothing,
another must have nourishing food and
warm drink. 1t is good plan to adapt
the water to the temperature OF the
room, and always be quite sure that the
drainage is good.
Often a plant will drOop and look sickly,
when, IL the matter is looked into, IL will
be found that water stands in the bottom
of the jar. A bent wire Is always useful
in this case, for by penetrating the holes
at the base of the pot and stirring the
earth, passages will be made for the es-
cape OF stagnant water and gas. Then
water freely, being sure that the water
runs through quickly; drain all of, loosen
the soil at top of the jar, and withhold
moisture until the plant is again healthy.
The Gala, as is well known, requires
Jar boiling water may be used In the
lower jar, and will wonderfully hasten
growth and blossoms. Fuchsias are
thirsty plants, especially when in flower,
and moisture is necessary TO the Chinese
primrose. The majority Of plants re-
qure weekly bath; in fact, nothing so
invigorates them as a shower bath Of
tepid water Those which cannot be re-
moved readily for the showering may
have their leaves sponged.
A correspondent gives the following
easy and effective way OF checking the
injuries caused blythe red spider: First,
shower the plant all over with dry insect
powder-don't be afraid of putting on too
much. Let IL remain about twenty-four
hours. Second, plunge the plant, pot,
earth and all. in tub Of water, and let
1t remain over night; in the morning,
| gently wash the plant while under water,
i lift IL and set IL in the sunshine to dry
| The water needs to be of temperature
little tepid, or the plant will be chilled.
The fingers can be run through the
| leaves while under water without any in
/ jury. The plant may lose a few leaves
in the process, and these chiefly because
of the previous injury done to them by the
! spider; butI have removed the, spider ut
|
ment, even when they were very numer-
Gus, and had the plants rather improved
| by their bath than otherwise.
| AS for the fiat, white mealy bug that
damages all plants that he visits, have
found no means for removing him, ex-
| cepting to rub him out Of existence with
a small damp brush. These two are the
| worst of all enemies to house plants.
! In arranging for the winter garden
let us decide which plant shall be most
honored, which shall have the best cor
ner in the conservatory. Perhaps the
Gala for with plenty of light 1t will
grow more symmetrical, and its upright,
stately beauty, and, under right treat
ment, its free offering of fair white
blossoms, makes it justly the queen of
the winter flowers. Possibly the con-
servatory opens from the sitting-room,
with an arched entrance around which
vines may be trained. There are SO
many vines well suited for this purpose
that IL is mere matter OF fancy which
TO select The German ivy is most
rapid in growth, and the variety Ma
croglossus, with dark, rich foliage, re-
sembing the English ivy, is beautiful,
though not so quick In growing as Scan
dens, the light-leaved variety. The
mOsJ Satisfactorily WIG ever CulJlNhJcu
| indoors was the coboca. IL had at
tained fair growth on the piazza dur
| ing the summer, and in the fall the
branches were taken down carefully,
| the large pot carried to the conserva-
tory and placed just outside the en-
trance, while the vine was trained
around the room opening from the con-
servatory. The vine grew luxuriantly,
and gave profuslon OF rich purple
bells. The next spsing It was placed
out OF doors, and grew we'll, blooming
indoors the second winter, when IL died,
seemingly from exhaustion.
/ Madeira vine and smilax are among
the easily cared for and rapidly growing
vines; and maurandia is always graceful
| and desirable. But the very prettiest
vine on the whole list Is asparagus ten
uIssimus; the delicacy of It's foliage, its
bright, cheerful green and perfect free
dom from insect pests leave nothing To
be desired. Then IL Is invaluable, with
its dainty, featbery sprays, for bouquet
making and decorative purposes, espe-