The Portland daily press., 1896-01-04
THE HOME.
House Plants Hints.


sunny windows, yet in every room one
would like to have flowers or foliage, and
SO cheat winter Of it's dreariness with a
suggestiveness of summer. And yet a
shady window, or one well lighted, but
| with northern exposure, may hold it's
charms by carefully selecting its plants
Early in January is not too late to plant
this. Callsa, oyclamen and hyaoinths
do well with very little sun, also all the
many naroissi, if given light and food
freely. Feei literally, for they win alb
| surb and exhaust vast amount of fer
tilizing matter, liquid or otherwise also
water freely, and they will foweringly
respond. Primroses may be added here,
but must not be kept too wet. or they
will damp OFF, about as fast as now
leaves can start out.
| For foliage for this window use palms,
ferns, the fcus elastica (called rubber
plantl, orange and lemon trees.
For vines, smilax, German ivy and the
hoya. The latter may not be in flower
until spring. then it will literally repay
In waxen clusters all the care expended in
keeping its leaves free from dust, and
feeding it well with liquid fertilizer
| Callas are bulbs and the older they
are the larger and stronger they should
be, and cases are on record where the
same bulbs have been sin the family
for 80 years, and still continue to give
from four to six blooms each winter. In
these cases. the callas were not set in the
borders summers, but were given six
months rest, a vacation that they had
we'll earned Scraggly window gardens
that are not made SO by neglect or lack
of skill, are usually the result of the
| gross ignorance or grosser greed of their
owners, who just work their plants to
death. Plants that have bloomed all
summer should rest in winter, and vice
versa One might as we'll expect hui
man being to work all day and sit up
| all night, week after week, and yet give
| "good work. -
In December year or two ago q gar
dener discovered a few calendula plants
in sheltered spot, probably self sown
and fostered into life even at this season
| by the favorable chance of sun and
/ weather. AS an experiment the tiny
! plants were transplanted into pots and
placed in sunny window, where their
gorgeous blooms were the admiration
and wonder Of the neighborhood the
whole season. Since then late fall SOW
ing has kept up the supply of rich colors.
Even now seeds may be sown, and the
marigolds be in bloom long before we
can put plants out of doors again.
| Nothing gives greater pleasure than
the window devote to seedlings, if one
likes to grow plants as we'll as to have
plants. There is difference between
the two kinds of flower lovers. All floral
dealers now keep sets Of window gar
den seeds " for sale, and if one is in
doubt what to buy Or which will best
repay house care, it is we'll to patronize
| these packets. A word about properly
| setting bulbs. Although have seen the
| Chinese lily bloom freely despite the fact
| that 1t was almost tumbling off its bed
of pebbles, although the hyaointh has
bravely blooIned while yet nearly thrown
out of the pot because Improperly set,
still their very tenacity Of purpose in do
ing we'll despite ill usage demands that
they should be respected ana treated as
they deserve. Set the sacred bulb we'll
down into the pebbles. almost to the bot
| tom OF a dish as shallow as is ordinarily
used for these lilies. Pack the stones or
pebbles around, SO as to 'sfirm'' each bulb
in place, and let some of the smaller peb-
bles come upon the crown of tn bulb.
not enough to conceal 1t, but to help keep
it in place; and do not mistake the root
side for the crown, where the bud stalks
will start. and thus ignorantly set it
bottom upwards
Why does a bulb in earth get thrown
outP First, because the earth beneath
it was packed, and when moistened
swelled. This packing is often done,
largely by providing a bulb into the
earth-a very great mistake
For bulbs, fill pot loosely with good.
rich earth, then dip out with spoon or
small trowel earth enough to leave hole
somewhat larger than the bulbs, one hole
for each bulb, and deep enough SO that
the top or crown" of the bulb shall be
only on level with the general surface.
Set each bulb root end down, and then
firm the earth around each with the
hands and just bring the earth up lightly
over the crown. In this way bulbs will
not throw themselves QUIT while root
iDg.-Boston Transcript,
Household Hints,
Chloroform is usefrl for taking naint
stains from black silks Persistent rub
b1ng is necessary. Chloroforn will also
restore faded plush goods by sponging
carefully.
A soft wooden cloth, plenty Of rubbing
and a tablespoonful of vinegar mixed
with three of pure raw linseed oil will
make a mahogany dinner table shine
like mirror. Piano keys when in need
Of cleaning should be wiped off with al