The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-03
ideas for dMo9nen.

palms in winter" said one member of a
bright-looking group gathered yesterday
into a big West Walnut street mansion
for a session of talk and hot tea, says a
writer in the Philadelphia Press"
Il rave almost given up attempts at
raising them," another woman spoke up
Mine all die, or else they die half way.
The leaves get reddish and dry, and the
whole affair takes on an air of general
d~ilapidation. like a whiskbroom used too
long. It's dreadful, too, the thought Of
giving them up. A strong, robust bit of
green does give such a homelike air to a
place
Don't think Of giving them up" cried
q matron with enthusiasm. II have just
been interviewing a lot Of florists and |
can give you some pointers on the sub
ject which win Just keep your pots In
fine condition during the winter. You
see, I looked the matter up in books first.
All I found there upon the subject was
that the leaves should be sponged to
keep them bright. Well, / had bought
six beautiful plants this winter and i
wanted to keep them. So / resolved to
take my worries to a reliable florist"
"Do give us the benefit OF the inter-
yiew?''
well. frst Of an I said to him.: Mr..
Smith. why won't palms grow properly
in our houses?' He laughed and ans
wered: oh. you women don't under
stand caring for Them What ought we
to doT I asked. First of all, under
stand Them he said. smiling. "A woman
shoul make it her business to know
just what species Of palm or plant she
has bought, and what treatment 1t re-
quires. Palms are individuals. Because a
woman happens to hear that one pot
needs sun she is too apt to think that
all do. Yes. first Of all understand
them
"One very important point in caring for
palms is. to see that sthe tubs are large
enough. They should be examined each
year to see that the roots have not grown
too large for the space. Cramped roots
are sure destruction.
"As to sun and shade. that depends upon
the plant. There is the Ficus ~clastica,
which IS really one of the handsomest of
winter plants. This grows to a very con-
siderable size and will need q good sized
tub to allow expansion. Its leaves should
be washed twice a week. It needs a rich
soil, good drainage in the pot, and its
roots should never be allowed to become
dFy-that- is another point for household
palms The top layer Of earth Is often
sprinkled with water and the roots al
lowed to go unmoistened. This neglect is
often fatal.
The palms propsr need very deep pots,
and dust collected upon the leaves is ia
tai in the long run. Palms need plenty
of water and no great quantity of sun.
When placed in winter sunlight the sun
should fall upon the leaves.
For spots to which llttle or no sun.
comes there are a number of plants suit
able. callas and the Bermuda Easter
Lily will flourish in a north window. If
you AVE a specimen of the iatania bar
bonica or fan palm. its rich white leaves
VIII DO web In the shade. Others which
require httle or no sun are the kentia
peimoreana, phoenix rectinata,@cocos we'd
delliana, sieforthia elegans, sanseriera
zeylanica, etc.
"A good bit OF the health of any plant
hes in the temperature Of the room
9iants OF all kinds should be kept in a
d room The room should be well ven
as the fact of good ventiIation
2 much. And as far as practicable,
fireplace should he exc,udsd arnesa gpsas
do a lot Of mischief 20 ! ana .n1snt
-.
During the cold winter uaubts ra,,ns
and other plants, IL placed D the win
dow sill or near il, are liable to become
1rost bitten by the chill which enters
through window .scracks.p rbese Iit+,A
openings about the sash should be stufYad
with rags or paper, and. when Il q not
convenient to remove the nots 10 ots,ar
positions, they may be enyeloped in news
papers to ward OF the drauehts
Insects upon the plauts are fatas ~
allowed to remain. A florist uses a sv-
ringe of brass, which every woman who
asplres to plant raising should own. All
parts OF the leaves and stem r cleansed
py lne spray from one Of these. And al
afost aH insects can be gotten rid of in
sns way, ana the dust which clings, re-
A'oEsa
- what Quantity of water should be
spo"ea - ohiy learned through expe-
' tne great point being that mois-
q KEPT at the roots and that the
: are Wen drained. The pot of a
nea'.ny plant viii never have the sour
naYYuioy ooor OF one which is In bad con-
elfon- II would take too much time to
8pEaK of fbn different casY