The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-11-03
HOUSE. PLANTS,
How too Keep Them Fresh anh Fine All
Winter.


Very few housekeepers, naturally
ambitious TO beauty their rooms In
winter with foliage plants. recognize
that like cats. or dogs. canarles. or
children, palms and ferns require n time
for becoming natural!zed and happy IN
their new homes.
a fern or palm brought In the most
vigorous health from the fiorIs's green
house will often enough drop and pine.
In genuine inconsistencies and like young
animals or birds, plants thrive most
happily In each others company. 1t Is,
therefore. advisable to begin bit OF Il
window conservatory. not with one.
but let us shy with three plants. The
best selection Is usually Il sturdy India
| rubber tree. FIscus clastlcus. IS what
the florists call II: parlor palm. that
IL an Asp!distra lurida. and n big pot
OF zebra plant, Eulalia japonlca zeb-
rina, which you can tell by Its 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 n year.
AtO Will lNt. wv Az u IOOul where
gas Is burned, where nn occasional pipe
or cigarette Is smoked and where there
Is n fire. In turn for 20 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 thRm
| about too much. Is not always heedful
| 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 IL any way protect
| them from dust.
Happily where SO many sins OF omis-
sion and commission are committed the
poor things die quickly and SO escape
their wrctched existence. II you intend
to keep plants put them in Il 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 lireliest nee
ess!ty move the pots. Every day, ut as
nearly the same hour rs you can man
| age. water these household pets. They
will be grateful for the regularity and
unfallingly once week give them q
bath. That IS. with a sponge and clear,
tep!d water gently pass over the leaves.
| Use many basins OF water for this
ard as far rs you can protect them,
don't let cold drnught strike through
their foliage.
\ sudden chill often blasts an other
wise hearty plant and just as import
| ant IL II to protect them from super
fiuous dust. When cleaning day comes
around, throw big bags OF old muslin
| or dlmlty over the green things, and MS
plants arc usually kept in deep win
dow. be sure at night to draw down the
shades and over the portlcres, when
the gas Is lighted.
The porticrres 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 nor
there's and pull up the window shades.
Under such circumstances the follow
Ing plants Will Eaily flourish IN n sit
ting or dining-room or bedroom. where
every day plenty OF heat is supplied
during the winter.
There Is the fan palm and its dwarf
mate called C. Lumllis. The SeaforthIa
elegans with handsome fernlike leaves,
Australian cabbage palm and familin
keutia Fosterlana, silky Australian oak
ana Eucalyptus g!obulus, all worthy
OF cultivation In ones conservatory. ali
willing to flourish, II their needs are
considered and wonderful benutsrers OF
ones home.
Another lovely hardy foliage plant Is
the Centaurca ragusina, with silver
frosted leaves that serves on occasions
to decorate the center OF the table. but
the list really Is almost endless, though
those given above are enough to M an
cmorasure and answer for green and
refreshing decoration the year through,
EDITH SAUNDERS.