Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-10-27


is, perhaps, the most difficult to cul-
ture, on account Of its susceptibility 10
attack from pests. The abutilon and
clerodendron are probably the least
known, but are Of easy culture.
After the selection of the plants de-
sired, one of the most important fetl-
lures confronting the amateur is prop,
| elly potting or reporting Them as
the case may demand. As to securing
proper sol, which is the first necessary
adjunct to potting, beginners can best
overcome Il difficult matter by purchas-
| ing the small amount they need from
florists, who, as Il rue, are perfectly
! willing to Lei them have 1t. III tact,
/ there are several dealers in pottlns
soii in Washington, men who solicit
! lawns to look after or flower beds
10 care for, who keep it soley for that
| purpose.
| Plants when bought from local flor
lists are mostly in pots, and i'll pots
often seemingly far too small in pro-
portion to the size Of the plant These
Usually need repotting. Plants received
by mail or express from out-of-toWn
dealers come accompanied by sur
prisingly small Wads Of soil about
their roots. III either case it is all
righr.
One Of the most common errors
among amateurs, and too often lndulg-
ell in by those who have passed the
amateur stage, is putting their plants i'll
too argc pots, and then wonder why
! they do not bloom. One reason is be-
cause the strength in the surplus earth
| is absorbed by the growing roots.
! Contracted dimensions Will insure
more bloom and form Il stronger and
mere compact plant, paradoNical as
/ this may appear.
When shifting Il plant from one pot
/ to another, the after OF which should
always be just one size larger, do not
! take Il hammer and pound the pot
to pieces, OF II club and bang around
its sides to loosen the roots and soil,
but simply place the fingers Of the
left hand open Y over the surface ana
with the right hand holding the pot
by the bottom turn it upside down
and give tho rim Il gentle tap on some
thing ana the ball Of earth will slip
out IS gently as jelly from Il mold.
Place = small piece of curved pot or
! two Or three straight pieces overlapped
i'll the bottom Of the new pot, add Il
/ Ittl" dirt, place the bal of soil i'll
the center and then with Il fiat piece
Of wood or anything fiat pack soil be
] tween the bah and the sides moderate
~ firm to within an inch or SO of
the top.
There is something, and Il matter
! Of Importance, too, often neglected
or no, understood, and that is in shift
ing y ants; if The ball Of soil surround
ing roots is encrusted it should be
tapped around gently with Il light
piece of wood SO rs to loosen the
outer crust. If this is not done water
cannot penetrate it, or ut least it will
flow off through the softer soil without
affecting it at AZ and the plant will
drop its leaves ana finally die
After potting give Il good watering
TO settle the earth to the bottom of
the pot but be Sparing with water
until new growth takes place. Which
generally occurs with its making OF
roots in the new sol The plant
shCnId he kept away from he sunlight
for five or six days.
/ For vines, if any be wanted-they
are not often cultivated for winter
use -smilaX, ivy, asparagus and the
manetta are the most commonly used
For a novelty the potato vine is unique
\ solid receptacle of any kind filed
with wet sand will grow a sweet pc
tato nicely, and the vine with its pref
t. foliage and its quickly combining
.ahit becomes Il fayOrlte wherever il
h1s been grown.
."rotsherds," or broken pieces oil
crogllery and gravel. are seldom uset
by florists in -ess than four-inch pots
After that size they resort to drainage
filling the pot about one fourth PLACING
the larger pieces at the bottom. Owe
: drainage it is best to put something
: to prevent the soil being washed int
, the pieces and choking them up. The
! most accessible and rs good rs any
t thing that can be had is the common
| packing material known as excelsior,
/ Il sma layer of which is placed upol
, the driinage prior to putting i'll thu
: earth. Many florists are now using i
: alone for pots under seven inches il
| size.
Ii II not practicable to have pot plants
= aouatics can ~ raised in winter with
9 out a great deal OF trouble-thougl
| the embryo florist would do well t
/. postpone the culture of them for
: few years.
: Florida is now furnishing larg
) number of winter-blooming pants 70
/ this and even as high 4 latitude a
h Boston. The Florida florists claim tina
S some of the most cherished floral pet
t IRE natives of the torrid zone, an
Il that as the thermometer there rarel
r gets as high in summer as in man
o localities in the northern part of til
q United States the natural growth c
Vt the plant is better adapted to tn
70 dwelling house than those grown /
p the higher temperature Of Il closed an
Y oyerheated greenhouse. Greenhouse
4 in Florida in winter are only roofe
m with either thin cloth or open lattiC
lie work While many Of the plants eve
in that season are grown in open ii
" For evergreen. palms. which can
O. had in an endless variety. and tt
I'd rubber plant. which is rather sens
le tive 10 cold. and should be kept fro
Il drafts. are the best.
Id |
N Each Of these two famous boats il