The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-02-27
HousE PlANTs IN 80
Cars That Makes Palms Grew Green ana
Glossy-FsshIonahls Eloner.

Care Ehas Makes Palms Grew Green ana
Glossy-Fsshionabls Flower.
There is probably nothing quite Sc IT.
tractire for q household o5nament as d
healthy, growing plant. Just st this
season Of the year the palms and rub
Der plants, which have been enjoying
a riotous span Of life under the smiling
influences OF the sunshine aa the past
summer. have been restored to their
accustomed places In the house. As a
rule, whatever these plants have added
to their girth OF height during the
summer will represent their gain for
the year. Their tropical constitutions
are not capable of much exertion or ex-
pansion during the winter, and the nm
folding of a new leaf is really q matter
Of great moment during this period to
those who are fond Of watching their
development and growth.
An experienced florist says that cons
trary, perhaps, to the general impress
sion the fall is not the season for re-
potting or slipping rubber plants. The
spring is the time. Reporting Of both
palms and rubbers was made a neces-
sity in hundreds Of cases lately after
the night of the big storm, when SO
many fine plants, still adjoining gar
dens, We're toppled over. Excepting
for this they would have needed no
change until next spring, for the little
which would have been added to their
size would not have affected the root.
Palms and rubber plants are in such
general use as house ornaments because
il is comparatively easy to care for
them. just like human beings, they
are extremely sensitive to changes in
temperature. and should be guarded
against draughts. They want sunshine
and light for healthy growth, and de-
prived of either or both they soon show
a failure in beauty and vigor. In the
average house the plant has some tough
experiences. Madam d~ecorates the pot
with silken scarfs; puts the plant
where the softened glare of a big lamp
falls prettily OF it, but at the same time,
little by little, either scorches or dries
up the plant itself, or it is placed with
all due regard to light and sunshine in
IA window recess, where every wind that
blows sends a shivtGing and chilling
sensation to its very heart. If all the
conditions of sun and light, with an
equable temperature, are in the plants
favor, besides keeping the roots slight
y moist, it is necessary that the leaves
of both plants and rubbers should be
kept free from dust by washing them
off carefully every day with a sponge
or soft cloth in lukewarm water. AT
tention of this kind need not take much
time, and the appearance of the plant
in its glossy green will be ample com
pensation.
Unless fortunately protected by
dense overhanging foliage, neither rub
bers o palms, if still outdoors, could
have survived the recent frosts. There
will be many mild days yet, and, in fact,
of and on all winter when they could be
exposed without danger, but, as a rule,
it is best to keep them indoors and run
no risks, for it takes a long time for a
plant to regain its vigor after a blight
whether it be a freezing or a scorchine
one.
The chrysanthemum will not be queen
of the floral realm this fall. Orchids
in beautiful c~olorings and shapes. will
be the proper thing for all decorative
work for those who can afford such a
costly luxury.
Roses are beautiful just now, whetL
1T be the last one, 'blooming alone"
whether one views a collection in
florists storehouse. The Americ
Beauty holds her own as queen of I
mall, and will be just as popular IL
winter as ever. While moderate
costly just now, when the gay e
begins and social events succeed ca
other with giddy rapidity, the pri
will mount higher and higher, until
is far beyond the reach of the ordina
being. The modest violet is on hai
also, and holds it's own. Bridal bo
quets are just as popular made of I'LL
of the valley as of bride roses, and Ok
sibly are more artistic. Valley lili
can be had now, but the fashionah
thing is, of course, the orchid.-Was
ington Star.