Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-01
FOR DECORATIVE PURPOSES.
Vines and Plants Suitable for Outside and
Inside the Home.
FOR. THE DIaPA

Vines and Plants Suitable for Outside and
Inside the Home.
rwR1TrEN FOR THE DIsPATcH.I
The art of outdoor decoration of our farm
houses and suburban homes is one that can
be greatly improved upon in this country.
One may ride for mile through the country
without seeing a comfortable home grace
fully and carefully shaded and fringed by
some beautiful and well chosen vines. The
neglect is more apparent when the number
of desirable plants and vines for this pur-
pose is noted. Our country and even city
homes could be made much more graceful
by festooning them with the Virginia
creeper, which with its thriftness and crown
ing excellence of rich autumn color, make it
a most desirable plant. The ground nut is
twining perennial that is ornamental
throughout the season, but late In the au-
tumn when the flowers of other plants and
climbers have died it reaches the height of
its beauty with its beautiful flowers. 1t
has the odor of violets, and the blossoms
are of chocolate hue 1t will sometimes
grow 16 or 20 feet up a tree. or alongside OF
a house.
Another desirable vine for outdoor deco
ration is the moonseed, which has beautiful
twining stems and abundant foliage. The
unarmed smilax should not be neglected for
this purpose, and the beautiful Virgins
bower, one of the most graceful Northern
clematises, should be rescued from the
woods and highways to ornament the sides
and trees OF our homes. In deep rich soil 1t
makes wonderful growth, and completely
transforms an object by its leaves.
But indoor decorative plants are just as
essential at this time Of the year as those
grown out of doors. Plant decoration is
becoming more fashionable every year, and
with improved methods of cultivation the
price of flowers is falling so that at nearly
every reception of any note plants and
palms are features of the rooms. II one has
conservatory attached to the house, or a
small bay-window devoted to the cultiva-
tion of flowers, all such plants can be grown
at home, and if many entertainments are
given during the winter quite an item Of e1-
pense will be saved, besides having the
pleasure of enjoying the fragrance and
beauty of the plants all through the winter
months.
There are three of these useful plants,
which are especially useful for decorative
purposes, owing to their beauty, and hardi-
ness in standing heat and dust. The aspl-
distra elatior is plant that is we'll known,
and very old, in spite Of its long name. 1t
is easily cultivated when potted in good
loan, and given plenty of water and tenn
perature of 800 or 600. In the summer time
it needs partial shading, but in the winter
it makes a good plant for decorating dark
halls in the dwelling house. They are pro-
paeated by dividing the rhizomes at any
time of the year, but generally the spring is
the best time.
The varlegata form of the coprosma bauri-
ana is a plant that originally came from
New Zealand, and after heing popularlzed
in Europe it found Its way here. 1t is now
considered one of the best plants for indoor
decoration When the young plants are
once established they are easily grown.
They make beautiful plants either for cool
house culture or Tor outdoor work in the
garden. They have large. glossy green
leaves, with broad marginal bands Of yellow
running through them.
HELEN WHARBURDoN,