The Portland daily press., 1893-10-28
THE HOME.
House Plants.

High IN the list of desira BILE winter
blooming plants should be placed the
begonia, and of this one of the best
varieties is rubra, which has rich, deep
green leaves and coral-red flowers, borne
in large loose, branching panicles. The
beauties of this specimen are sure to be
much admired, and it is rarely ever with
out flowers or buds in various stages of
development Another variety, almost
as good, is Weltoniensuis. This has a
peculiar, rich, satin-like leaf and de-
licate, pink flower. 1t is hardy, luxu-
RANT grower. but, like all begonias,
should be set in a spongy, turfy soil,
well mixed with sharp sand. The pots,
too, should be well drained, and the
plants freely watered, otherwise the
leaves may drop, or the plants may fall
off joint by joint. A new Towering be-
gonia, which is a great winter bloomer,
is called the President Carnot.n Its
foliage is larger and it's flowers trife
lighter in color than those of rubra. The
leaves have tendency to bronze and
red uints, and as the plants sometimes
I'LL up w 1Oul duu live lGCU III ludk6S Il
very effective display in large window.
Another favorite plant for house culti-
alton is the Chinese primrose. 1t blooms
freely and constantly, and, if it's habits
are once understood, is very easily culti-
waited. It should be potted high to pre-
vent decaying, with the soil higher in
the centre than the sides. The soil, by
the way, should be light and turfy, gen
erously mixed with sand, and we'll
drained. This plant can be profitably
grown in a north window; care should
be taken not to keep it in strong sun
light, else the flowers will not last we'll
Of the two varieties, double and single,
the double are the most popular. Most
varieties have flowers with fringed petals
and in clusters. In colors they appear
in pink, crimson. mauve and white An
other member of the primrose family
(and most marvellous bloomer it is
too) is called Primula Obconica. The
single flowers are smaller than those
the ordinary primrose, but they often
appear in from twenty to forty clusters
at the same time. The flowers of the
primula are borne on long, slender
stalks, high above the foliage, and in
color are white, tinted with lilac Their
odor conveys delicious suggestion. of
the wild woods, and for this reason they
are always favorites. The primula
should be very plentifully watered and
should be planted in soil like that used
for the primrose. 1t takes a somewhat
cool room, and also thrives in north
window
a good winter bloomer, if properly
cared for, is the Gala. 1t needs a rich,
well dressed soil, must be watered
moderately, and should be kept in a
well drained pot. A warm, sunny place
is best for it, and the foliage should re-
ceive daily sprinkling on both sides.
The soil should be frequently fertilized,
and care should be taken not to have the
pot too large.
The single petunia is fast becoming
fairly rich, moist soil, plenty of sun, but
only warmth enough to protect it
against frost. 1t may be trained on
trellis or as a hanging plant, and fer
tilizer should be applied once week
after each new growth begins lit should
be cut back occasionally. The single
petunia is a most extraordinary bloomer.
The more flowers you cut off the more it
will produce, until you wonder where in
the name of all that is wonderful they
come from.
These plants are some of those best
adapted to winter cultivation. % There
are others, such as the pretty oxalis
rose and the Towering carnation, which
are equally good, but perhaps they are
less of novelty than those first named.
Try your hand this winter at little
amateur house gardening. 1t is a
charming occupation, and will repay
your labors thousand fold.-Charles
Emerson Cook in Boston Budget.
Worlds Fair Bread.
AT one of the lectures in the model
kitchen in the Woman's Building Mrs.
Rorer declared that few people make
wholesome corn bread. She gave the
following rule: "Put one quart of cold
water in kettle; at first boil, add one
tablespoonful of salt and sufficient yellow
meal to make mush. Cook one hour.
AT sponging time scald one pint of milk;
when lukewarm add one cupful of good
yeast or one dissolved compressed cake;
then wheat flour to make a sponge; beat
well. Now your mush should be Just
lukewarm; add it gradually to the sponge
and if too thick, add warm water.
Cover and stand aside over night. In the
morning knead lightly, using wheat
flour; beat, rather than knead. Add, if
you like, two tablespoonful of sugar.
turn into pans eight inches long and
four or five inches wide, and when light
and double it's bulk, bake in moderate
oven one hour. This will cut down like
light wheat bread, will be moist and de-
licious. Baking-powder may be used in
stead Of yeast, and bread made quickly.
but it must be baked full time and in
single loaves.
French Toast
Add to two well beaten eggs, half a
cupfui OF sweet milk, then dip slices of
bread III the mixture and brown on a
grlddlee, to which piece of butter the
Size OF a walnut has L Ger, ,n,,ouio,.e1rr