Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-16
WINTER wNoow.caaoeNlNc.
How TO Preserve Growing Plants In
Very Cold Room.
written for the Dispatch.)

very C0Iu ltOOms
written for the Dispatch)
Flower-Iovers are often discouraged
| from growing touse-plants, owing to the
lack of a warm, convenient place to keep
them at night. In my earlier house-keep-
ing days / had considerable experience In
maintaining n miniature conservatory. In
| n room so cold that water would freeze
| there every severe night. found II posi-
| BILE TO grow plants to perfection In just
such windows, IL these two following
rules were observed:
1. The windows must be protected from
all draughts of the cold. outside air, that
are so quick TO find their way through
every crack and Granny. Not only does
an astonishing amount of frost creep IN
at these tiny openings, but the draught
created makes the chill atmosphere act
more quickly on the tender leaves ana
buds of house-plants. Unless the floor is
air-tight-and IL is-the carpet or OIL
cloth under the plant-stand should be
turned back. and layer OF newspapers,
six or eight deep, placed beneath. Inc
carpet when replaced will be as smooth
as ever, If the papers have been spread
evenly. Next Ife WltllOW-SdSH anu VIVA
work need attention. Apertures of any
considerable size can be stopped either by
the patent rubber memberships. or by
common newspapers that have been
messed into longitudinal folds the width
of knfe-blade and made thick enough
10 fit snugiy into the space. Very small
cracks and chinks are best managed by
pasting strips OF thick paper over them.
All this means labor, but IL Is work that
pays. for according TO thermometer
hanging outside, the plants In a snug.
draughtless window will stand several
degrees more cold without injury than
those in windows with loose sash and
woodwork.
COVER AT NIGHT.
9 In severe weather cover plants at
night. To do this. take down all the
pots from window shelves and brackets,
and make room for them on the plant
stand, which, II on casters. can be pulled
out a little from the window. With
little experience one becomes az expert at
hacking as the typical Methodist minis
ter's wife IS supposed to be. and can
snugly bunch together great number OF
plants on a single small stand. Always
remember TO place flowers most suscepu-
BILE to cold on the top round, and the
bushiest specimens at the corners OF the
stand-they will better sustain the weight
Of their protection. Always use news
papers for the first course OF covering.
and the larger and broader the papers
the better Paper is more impervious to
the air than cloth. and If properly dis
tributed, will scarcely bend a leaf Of the
plants beneath them. The same papers
can be used again and again. and except
in the coolest weather are all the protec-
ton needed In exceedingly low tempera-
ture sheets or blankets should be pinned
around the stand. first making sure that
the inner covering Of newspapers Is UNI
usually thick, or the plants will be
crushed by the weight of the blankets.
Do not uncover in the morning until the
room has become genially warm.
have carried coleus. hellotrope, bego-
Mas. and other plants as tender as these,
safely through the hardest winters. 1t Is
certainly troublesome to put ones floral
children to bed each night, and get them
UP again each morning, but one Is well re-
paid by the possession of bud and bloom
that make summer-like the dreariest win
ter. LORA S. LA NANCE.