Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-02-16
Treatment OF House Plants.

Leaves of plants when in healthy con-
dtion are generally deep green, but when
they become diseased are faded color. In
a majority of such cases the color Is caused
by a lack or an excess of light Fuchsias,
farfugums, ferns, and such plants cannot
stand the full blaze of the sun all day, but
like Swallowed places where a little of
morning sun can be obtained. But such
plants as geraniums like great deal more
light, although they will do just as well if
not given the strong rays of the midday
sun. When the discoloration is first no.
ticed, the plant should be turned out of the
pot to ascertain the condition of the roots.
If the plant is root-bound it shows lack
of nutriment, and larger pot and more
soil should be given it. Where the roots
are not of healthy color, it may be due to
the soil or the watering.
If the soil is dry in the bottom of the pot,
it shows more water is needed. But if
the soil is in sour, soaked condition, it
shows the pot needs better drainage, which
is secured by putting about half an inch of
broken crockery in the bottom of the pot.
If it seems to be due to neither of the above
cases, it is probably due to the soil, which
should be changed. A good plan is to
splash the roots of a root-bound plant in a
pail of weak manure water. The leaves
of tropical plants oranges, bananas-turn
yellow from a sudden change of tempera-
ture. This is occasioned frequently by
the fire going out or the sudden change of
the wind. In such cases it is well to with
hold water for a few days or until new
growth starts. The water for plants
should be of the same temperature as the
surrounding air; cold water has often
caused the death of valuable plants. 1t is
good in its place but not for growing plants.
When applied to frozen plants, it has often
saved the life of many valuable ones, but
never of growing plants.
Plants with a crown, like the primrose,
are often found to be rotting at the base of
the leaves; this is caused by the water
gathering at the neck of the plants. The
remedy is to pull the soil up around the
base of the plant, causing the water to run
off. On the other hand plants like the
azalea, with a mass of fine roots forming a
ball in the centre of the pot, often suffer
for want of water; the ball of roots is SO
thick and heavy that unless the soil slopes
towards the roots the water will run around
the roots and do the the plant no goood.
a good rule, which applies to nearly all
plants, is that plants with thick, heavy
foliage that starts from the roots of the
plant should have the soil slope away,
while plants with thick, heavy balls of
roots should have the soil slope towards the
roots of the plant.
The old method of fumigatinon with to-
bacco, so long considered the most efficient
method of destroying plant lice or Aphis is
almost, if not altogether, abandoned by
prOfpss iOual florists To appOmpliSh the de-
sired results tobacco dust was also used.
This, when busted over the foliage of the
young plants, by means OF bellows, de-
stroyed the lice quite effectively, and with
mnch less trouble. But its use gave the
plants an untidy appearance, so that better
methods were sought, and soon found.
Now, the favored remedy is to scatter to-
bacco stems among the plants. If bedded
out, the surface between the plant is en-
tirely covered with stems. Tobacco stems
are also placed on the water or steam pipes.
For house plauts the stems should be cut
short and scattered over the soil in the
pots, which not only kills the lice that in
fest the tops, but the root aphis as well.
These underground enemies are more in
furious than those presented to view, and
often kill the plant without our knowing
the real cause of its death. The water APP
piled will carry sufficient strength of the
tobacco to the roots to free them from in
sect enemies. At the same time tobacco
stems are one of the best fertilizers that
can be used. They contain more plant
food than can be found in the same given
amount of any other vegetable substance,
and no danger can arise from too liberal
use of them.