The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-12-18
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 a bit of
window observatory, not with one, but
let us say with three plants. The
best selection is usually q sturdy In
dia rubber tree. Fischus elasticus, is
what the florists call it; parlor palm,
that is, an asidistria luridn, and a big
pot of zebra plant, Eulalia japonica
Eebrina, 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 a year.
They will live, too, in a room where
gas is burned, where an occasional pipe
OF cigarette is smoked, and where there
is 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
ful 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 frem 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 a
window that has double sashes and
where the greatest amount of sunshine
strikes for the longest time every
odJs 1roil tOO AiS IL VI Dc
the curtains back far and only for the
liveliest necessity 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
regularity, and unfailingly once a
week give them a 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
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 superhu-
Gus dust. When cleaning day comes
around throw big bags Of old muslin
or dimity over the green things. and
rs plants are usually kept In a 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 viii
still keep them warm enough Then,
not until she has made her fire, cleaned
the CRATE and done her busting for the
dag, 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
sitting or dining room or bedroom,
where every day plenty Of heat is sup
piled during the winter.
There is the fan palm and its dwarf
mate. called c. Lumilis, the Seaforthia
elecans with handsome feTn-like leaves,
cabbage palm and familia
kentia Fosterisua- silky Australian
oak and Eucalyptus g,obules- al worthy
of cultivation in ones conservatory,
ell willing 10 flourish. IL their needs
lre considered. and wonderful beauti-
fes of ones home
Another hardy foliage plant is the
Ccntaurea raguSina. with silver frosted
leaves that serve OF occasions 20 deco
rate the center table, but the list Is
really almost endless. though those !
given above are enough TO I'll an en- |
brasc-e AID answer for green ana TO /
fras hina decoration the rear thronxh~