The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-05-11
PLANTS IN THE ROOMS.
RULES FOR PLANTING AND
GROWING.
A Pleasant and neaIthfui work-It
Means More Fresh Air and strong
Sunlight In Rooms which Othsrwiss
Would ne Kept Closed and Dark.

II Is always a pleasant recreation for
the city man or woman TO have rev
pots containing pretty flowers. but II
is a sad fact that not one in hundred
has the slightest idea as to how the
plants should be treated In order 10 Sc
cure the best results. The indoor eui-
ture Of plants is also intimately CON
nected with the sanitary condition OF
our dwellings. says the Philadelphia
Inquirer. The oxygen Of the atmos-
phere Is indispensable to the respira-
ton OF animals; II purifies their blood
and affords them internal heat; and
combining with particles ready to be
removed from every part of the frame.
"a explred in the form Of carbonic acid
gas Ia compound Of oxygen and car
bou). This gas. which Is deleterious
TO animal life. constitutes the main
nourishment Of plants. which absorb
Il. appropriate It's carbon and restore
It's oxygen TO the air. again TO be
breathed in purity by men and anil
mails. II is true that pure air Is neees-
sary alike to the life Of plants and ami
mails. but the amount OF oxygen alb
sorbed by the former Is by no means
equal to that which they restore, and
thus through their agency the at
mosphere Is kept in healthy equili-
brium. Il is only during the day and
under the influence OF light. however,
that carbou>c acid is employed for the
nutrition OF plants: that which they
absorb during the night Is returned
into the atmosphere with the water
which Is continually evaporating from
the surface Of the leaves. From this II
will be understood how the night air
OF an apartment containing flowers is
said to be less healthful than the at
mosphere which peryades II during the
day: though under ordinary states OF
ventilation no danger need be appre-
hended from this source. Besides their
direct purifying influence plants also
tend Indirectly to the health OF dwell
lng apartments. For their sake thu
windows containing them will be Of
tener cleaned. the cash more frequent
~ thrown open and the air and sun
shine intended for them will also light
en- and purify the air Of the apartment
AS TO the amount Of skill necessary 70
domestic flower culture, II need not b
very great 1t Is true that partlcula
plants require particular treatment a
to moisture. exposure TO sunlight. etc
that some climb. others creep, som
require support. others float on watei
some remain evergreen. others dc
mand periods OF rest; but all this ca
, be learned OF any gardener from whol
l the particular plant Is obtained. Gu
3 tings. while they are freely provide
: with heat and moisture. should not
Q too much exposed to light and SUI
D shine. The evaporation which taxi
: Mace from the leaves must not exce'
: the moisture which the root Is capab
: OF absorbing from the soil; II II do
a so the plants will speedily languii
: and die. 1t Is necessary. therefore.
g keep young slips partially In the shat
e until they are thoroughly rooted al
|. begin TO send forth leaf buds. which a
e sure symptoms OF their new yitalit
n Particular attention should be paid
q the matter OF watering our domesi
y plants. Though plants may be occ
n sionally showered with the wateri
q not. in general the best mode is to gi
u them their supply by the fats or sa
a GERS and under soil and to take ca
; that this be as regular or as gradual
/ posslble. Drenching them today a
: forgetting them for the remainder
,e the week Is decidedly hurtful; a
Ia watering the surface has cooling
q. feet on the soil. though It Is obiecti'
IN able on the score OF cleanliness.
II care must be taken not TO give q
re- plant more water at a time than
A. roots can quickly take up; water stai
In ing in a saucer Is always injurio
- Moisture can always be partially $
mr. piled by placing shallow tin fats
IN the flower stand. from which the wa
,st can evaporate among the leaves
ge branches OF the plants
re Remember, too, that regular ext
81. ure and turning OF plants to light
In quite as necessary as air and moist
81. II we would grow them healthy ans
an. proper shapes.
no In transferring plants which B
40 become too large for their original
I'm II is generally necessary to rem
,ch part OF the old matted root, the Il
or OF which surround the ball OF eartl
9th open II up. as II were. so that II
le,- speedily obtain nutriment from
tor new supply OF soil. Noshing cal
non more absurd than to transfer a ba
Gov fibers and exhausted soil to new
-" under the idea Of not injuring the
Do not forget. also, to place at
bottom Of all pots layer Of br
earthenware or sifted gravel ne'
'eFy the bottom. with some turf or
ing above to facilitate drainage.
It. "