The Penn's Grove record., 1894-02-09
HOUSE PLANTS.
a FLORISTS HINTS UPON WIN
TER GARDENING
How Plants for the House May
be Raised and Succes siulIy
Grown-The Destruction Of
Insects and Vermin.

Az W ' AOA9S liNLNS1 - 'AA
~ ter gardening" as it is happily
VI termed, is rapidly increasing,
says w. C. Lester, a florist, In
the Millbrook IN. " Round Table. The
rich and the poor are alike engaged in
this beautiful pastimc, and it is graf
flying that the poor, as well as the
rich, can possess and enjoy all the
beauty and fragrance and refining
influence which with she cul.
~tivation of flowers in the household.
In the growing OF house plants the
first aim should be healthy plants, and
| after that early and abundant blossoms.
The latter is usually the great object,
however, but it can be obtained only by
following certain well-established rules,
and attending carefully, to their many
wants-iust as carefully in short, as if
they were SO many children placed in
ones charge.
How often we hear the remark IRE.
ferring to the lady of the home): "Her
flowers are her children" and when we
meet such a lady we find her full of en-
| thusiam and love for the plants which
| crowd her windows. Such a one usually
| needs no instruction about the growing
|, of flowers, for she is generally well in
formed concerning their culture; and
, these suggestions which are offered will
not be new to her.
Unfortunately, however, there is a
large class who keep a few plants which
for some reason are stunted, unsightly,
and a positive annoyance to their own
ers. They tend them well, or think
they do. This state of things is due,
not to the lack of care, but to the lack
of knowledge touching a few simple
| rules which lie at the basis of successful
gardening. 1t is for this class hat the
following suggestions are offered, which
if carried out will insure healthy, lux
uriant and blooming plants, the delight
and pride of the grower.
no GRow PLANTS FROM SEED.
This is more successful than any Other
way. The soil should be composed Of
leaf mold, one part; garden earth, tive
parts, sand, one part. Put in shallow
boxes or pots, water %copiously, yet
gently, that the surface OF the soil may
not be disturbed. After a few hours SOW
| the seed or the surface and cover with
twice as much soil in depth as the thick
ness of the seed. Then water very
sparingly, and place a paper over the
TOP of the box or pot, as il will retain
the moisture better aud assist IN the
termination. Keep iu a rather dark
place. and at a temperature of about
| sixty degrees Fahrenheit. Water just
enough to keep the surface from drying.
When the leaves appear remove the
cover or the plants may rot off at the
surface. Give them all the light possible,
and thin out before they become crowd
ed, Afterwards the plants left in box
or pots should be potted. Within two
or three weeks transplant them, giving
them plenty OF room to grow in larger
boxes.
PorTED PLANTS.
There is much nonsense written about
various soils by theorists. The soil il
pots is for two purposes first, to sup
, port and furnish the plant with food
second, to receive aud retain the moist
ure. Any soil will answer the purpose
of the first if watered sufficiently, and
plant food applied. Most soils used by
amateurs perform the second too well.
The difficulty in potting soils is that ii
is SO compact the water cannot escape;
it sonrs and the plant dies poisoned IN
fact. Use material that is loose in text
ure. II it is not available, then plenty
of sand. The following mixture answers
for all general purposes: Leaf mold, two
parts; garden soil, one part; sand, one
part; or thoroughly decayed sods, two
parts; sand, Il part; garden soil, one
part.
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