The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-10-25
HOUSE PLANTS.
How to Keep Then, Fresh and Fine
All Winter Long.


Very few housekeepers, naturally
ambitious to beautify their rooms in
winter with foliage plants, recognize
that, like cats or dogs, canaries or
children, palms and ferns require a
time for becoming naturalized and
happy in their new hcnles.
A fern or palm brought in the most
vigorous health from the florists
greenhouse will often enough droop
and and pine, in genuine homesicknes5.
and, like young animals or birds,
plants thrive most happily in each
| others company. 1t is, therefore, ad-
visable to pegln bit of window
conservatory, not with one, but let us
say with three plants. The best selec-
ton is usually a sturdy India rubber
tree, Fiscus elasticus, is what the flor
lists call it; parlor palm, that is an
| Aspidistra lurida, and big pot OF
zebra plan Eulalia japonica zebrina,
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
year. They will live, too, in room
where gas is burned where an occa-
sional pipe or cigarette is smoked anu
where there is fire. In turn Tor 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 mindful 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 protect them from dust.
Happily, where so many sins OF omls-
sion and commission are committed the
poor things die quickly and SO escape
their wretched existence. If you in
tend to keep plants, Iut them in Win
dow 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 ne
cessity move the pots. Every day, at
as nearly the same hour as you can
manage, water these household pets
They will be grateful for the regular
ity and unfailingly once week give
them bath That is, with sponge
and clear tepid water gently pass over
the leaves. Use many basins of water
for this and as far as you can pro-
tect them; don't let a cold draught
strike through their foliage.
A sudden chill often blasts an other
wise hearty plant; and just as i'm
portant is it TO protect them from SUI
perf1uous 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 a
deep window, be sure at night to draw
down the shades and over the por-
there's when 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 her CRATE and done
her busting for the day, should the
maid push back the portieres and pull
up the window shades.
Under such circumstances the follow
ing plants will gladly flourish in a sit
ting or diningroom or bedroom, where
every day plenty of heat is supplied
during the winter.
There is the fan palm and its dwarf
mate called c. Lumilis; the seaforthia
elegans with handsome fern leaves,
Australian cabbage palm and familia
keutia fosteriana silky Australian oak
and eucalyptus globulus, all worthy of
cultivation in ones conservatory, all
willing to flourish if their needs are
considered, and wonderful beautifiers
of ones home.
Another lovely hardy foliage plant IS
the centaurea 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 fill an
enbrasure and answer for green and
refreshing decoration the year
through. EDITH SAUNDERS