Evening star., 1896-10-24

house' anu, OF course, their condlt10n,
healthy or otherwise invites comment. AS
rule. whatever these plants have added
to their sirth or height during the sum-
mer Will represent their gain for the year.
Their tropical constitutions are not cap
able Of much exertion or expansion during
the winter and the unfolding of a new
leaf Is really a matter of great moment
during this period to those who are fond
OF watching their development and growth.
An experienced florist. to whom Star
reporter talked the other day. said that
contrary, perhaps, to the general impress
sion the fall is not the season for repot-
ting cr slipping rubber plants. The spring
Is the time. Reporting of both palms and
ruopers was made necessity in hun
areds oil cases lately after the night of the
plS Storm. when so many fine plants, still
aoorhlhS gardens, were toppled over Ex-
ceptihg for this they would have needed no
chanSe until next spring. for the little
which would have been added to their size
would not have affected the root
Easy 10 Care For.
rains End rubber plants are in such
general use as house ornaments because 1t
Is comparatively easy 10 care for them.
just like human beings, they are extreme
~ sensitive to changes in temperature and
should be guarded against draughts. They
want sunshine and light for healthy
growth. and deprived of either or bo; h
they soon show a failure in beauty and
NISor In the average house the plant has
some tough experiences. Madame deco
rates the pot with silken scarfs; puts the
plant where the softened glare of big
lamp fails prettily on 1t. but at the same
time. little by little either scorches or
dries up the plant itself, or it is placed with
all due regard to light and sunshine in
window RECESS. where every wind that
blows sends a shlyering and chilling sensa-
ton to it's very heart. If all the conditions
Of sun and light.,% with an equable tempera-
ture. are IN the nlants favor, besides keep
ing the roots, slightly moist, it is necessary
thai the leaXes of both plants and rub5ers
should be kept free from dust by washing
them off carefully every day with, a sponge
or soft CLOTH in lukewarm water Attention
of this kind need not take much time, and
the appearance Of the plant in its glossy
green will be ample compensation.
They Need Protection.
Unless fortunately protected by dense
overha 1eingl foliage, neither rubbers or
palms, if stAi outdoors. could have sur
WED the recent frosts. There will be
many mild days yet, and, in fact. off and
all wipter, when they could be exposed
without danger, but. as u rule. it is best to
keep indoors and run mo risks. for it takes
a long time for plant TO regain it's vigor
after blight. whether it be a freezing or
a Scorchingaene. .-,..-
Many West End families who own fine
plants have them cared for by their florist
during the summer months or during a
period of extended absence. This is pos
sibly the happiest time the plants will ever
know. In company with hundreds of
others. they are placed in q green house.
where they have nothing to do but keep
shining and green in the warmth and light
They go in yellow, stunted and sickly and
emerge. when the owners want them. lux
uriating in renewed health and beauty
Many wealthy housekeepers. however do
not own the plants which adorn their
hCmes. For a fixed sum. and a very rea-
SCI able one. house will be kept decked
with plants. and their well-being will be
locked afte1 very day by the florist and
new plants. as they succeed each other in
real flower lover this way is the luxury of
plant-keeping, and the custom has MANY
followers.
No Longer the FIorul Queen.
The chrysanthemum will not be queen
of the floral realm this fall. The big
Japanese blossom whose gorgeous flower
ing comes just when all other round-tbe-
year favoriteS are on the wane takes a
more modest place In the estimation of
those who enjoy flower novelties There
will be no special mum" shows this au-
tumn, such as distinguished the falls of
the past four or five years in New York
The dethroned queen is not quite forgot
ten, however, for she forms an attraction
at live stock show there now. where
she Is displayed in a hundred beautiful
and many new varieties. Fashion musr
have novelties. and from that source alone
was dictated the fall of the chrysanthe-
mum. The set in New York who NAV
truly be said to make the fashion for the
rest OF the country, have decreed that
they have had enough of the chrysanthe-
mum. and the dealers who have watched
the trend of their patrons thoughts have
almost hat
and filled their forcing houses with nu-
merous varieties of orchids. This growth
in beautiful colorings and shapes, will be
the proper thing for all decorative work
for those VINO can afford such a costly
luxury. The masses of people will, how
ever, still cling to the Japanese flower
and Its uses, so far as ricn and effective
displays are concerned, must :'till be GEN
eral. The decadence of the craze las of
course. cheapened the COST aud it is pos
sible to make extensive decorative effects
on an outlay which will probably not
reach half the cost of two seasons ago.
The orchid has, however. always carried
the day in point IF expense, and it's money
value. like B2int lace fans. India shawls,
sealskins and such like necessities for
the wealthy, rarely wavers from it's top
lof:lcal figure is, -.
Roses rand VfOlets.
Roses are beautiful just now. whether it
be the last ,one; blooming alone" or
whether one'tleWsS d coliectlOn IN HOriStS
storehouse. No matter how many the :ew
varieties ths, American beauty holds her
own as queen' of them all. and will be just
as ! opular this lWinter as ever While
season begins and social events vents sue sucases sss
each other with siddy rapidity, the price
will mount higher. and higher, until it is
far beyond the reach of the ordinary being.
The modest Violet is on hand also, and
holds its own without dread Of anybody's
fear or favoroas the flower of all others to
wear the cnrsage or boutonniere Of vio-
let's has subtle attraction of its own
which no other flower can hope to attain.
of valley lilies as of bride roses, and pos
sibly are more artistic. Valley lilies can
be had now but the fashionable thing is, Of
course the orchid.
A MEDIAEvAL MUSIC BOOK.