Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-12-24
WINTER HOUSE PLANTS.
How to Keep Them Fresh and Green
Through Snowy Days.

through snowy Days.
Very few housekeepers, naturally
ambitious to beautify their rooms in
winter with foliage plants, recognize
that like cats or dogs, canaries, or chill
dren, palms and ferns require a time
for becoming naturalized and happy
in their new homes.
A fern or palm brought in the most
vigorous health from the florists green
house will often droop and pine in gen.
uine home sickness, and like young
animals or birds, plants thrive most
happily in each others company. 1t is,
therefore, advisable to begin bit of
window observatory, not with one, but
let us say with three plants. The
best selection is usually sturdy In
dia rubber tree. Fischus elasticus, il
what the florists call it; parlor palm,
that is, on asidistria lurida, and big
pot of zebra plant, Eulalia japonica
zebrina, which you can tell by it's long
lovely striped green and white leaves
that grow in an elegant cascade.
All of these are recommended be-
cause they are hardy, easily kept clean,
and need potting only once year.
They will live, too, in a room where
gas is burned, where an occasional pipe
or cigarette is smoked, and where there
is q fire. In turn for so much sturdy
good nature, they must have not only
care, but that given regularly every
day. The woman who complains that
she can't raise house plants is simply
negligent of them. She moves them
about too much, is not always heed
full of their need of water, permits the
room they sit in to become very cold at
night, and then very hot during the
day. Probably, too, she does not cover
them up at night, nor in any way pro-
tect them from dust.
Happily, where so many sins of omis-
sion and commission are committed
the poor things die quickly, and so es-
cape their wretched existence. If you
intend to keep plants put them in q
window that has double sashes and
where the greatest amount of sunshine
strikes for the longest time every
day. Roll the shades high and drape
the curtains back far and only for the
liveliest necessity move the pots. Every
day, at as nearly the same hour as you
car manage, water these household
pets. They will be grateful for the
regularity, and unfailingly once a
week give them bath. That is, with a
sponge and clear tepid water gently
pass over the leaves. Use many basins
of water for this, and as far as you can
protect them; don't let a cold draught
strike through their foliage.
a sudden chill often blasts an other
wise healthy plant, and just as impor-
tant is it to protect them from supcrflu-
GUS dust. When cleaning day comes
around throw big bags of old muslin
or dimity over the green things, and
as plants are usually kept in n deep
window, be sure at night to draw down
the shades and portieres, where the gas
is lighted.
The portieres should be of some
heavy dark stuff to keep out the light,
heat and possibly tobacco smoke. Be-
fore leaving the room for the night
one window, as distant as possible
from that in which the plants sit, ought
to be pulled down at the top, to let in
fresh air, while the closed curtains will
still keep them warm enough. Then,
not until she has made her fire, cleaned
the CRATE and done her busting for the
day, should the maid push back the por-
there's and pull up the window shades.
Under such circumstances the fol-
lowing plants will gayly flourish in a
sitting or dining room, or bedroom,
where every day plenty of heat is sup
piled during the winter.
There is the fan palm and it's dwarf
mate, called C. Lumilis, the Seaforthia
elegans with handsome fern-like leaves,
Australian cabbage palm and familia
Keutia Fosteriana, silky Australian
oak and Eucalyptus globules, all worthy
of cultivation in ones conservatory,
all willing to flourish, if their needs
are considered, and wonderful beauti.
fcrs of ones home.
Another hardy foliage plant is the
Ccntaurea ragusina, with silver frosted
leaves that serve on occasions to deco
rate the center table, but the list is
really almost endless, though those
given above are enough to fill an en-
hrasure and answer for green and re
freshing decoration the year through
st. Louis Republic.