Decorah-posten., 1898-01-14
Lawn, Shrub, and Flower.
Ed,ed BY pKor c A. orIvkR
The Winter Garden.

~
wealthy enough to enjoy the lux
ury of a conservatory, but there
are few of US who cannot have
house plants, if only a few. The
true lover OF flowers will not be
restricted 10 the out-of-door gar
den during the summer months,
although there is much said about
the unhealthiness of indoor gar
dening.
While there are medical author
tiles to sanction this idea, still the
weight of popular opinion is on
the side of the flowers; and ever
many physicians maintain that
even in dormitories, window-gar-
dens exert no injurious effects un-
less there is lack of ventilation.
Ii is, at the same time, true, OF
course, that flowers in a close
room have preJudicial effects upon
those organizations that possess
an aversion to them for which
they cannot account.
The odor of the tuberose, for
instance, make many people i'll,
and in such cases it is not neces-
sary to state that those flowers
producing such an effect should
be baniShed.
For our kindergarten we do not
need a very commodious bay win
dow on the sunny side of a house,
and the heat that is necessary to
vegetable life is quite as good,
been artificial, some say; but it is
only reason to suppose that the
sun is important to plants chemic-
ally as well as thermally. So,
when it is possible, we should
choose a window with southern
exposure.
Seventy'fve degrees by day,and
forty-fve by night. indicates the
proper average. We must take
care to provide the room with
water in open vessels, so that the
proper moisture may accompany
the artificial warmth if we neglect
this, the flowers will fade and the
plants cease to flourish.
Another precaution should be
in regard to dust. When dust is
allowed to settle on plants it
closes the respiration of the
leaves, and stops their breathing
for the leaves are the lungs OF
vegetation. If dust has accumu-
lated by accident or thoughtless-
ness, it should be removed by a
syringe Immediately.
If plants are troubled by worms
in the soil has been examined, bit
by bit, and if the intruders are
there, a little ammonia in a gallon
of water poured over the earth
will kill them, and give fresh i'm
petus to the flowers.
For pot-plants the best combi-
nation is, one part of sand, one of
leaf mould, one of loan and a
small quantity of compost.
Geraniums, fuchias, and most
analogous plants demand nothing
more, while bulbs do better in
a nearly all sand soil. Vines need
something richer.
Kitchen odors are not healthful
to plants, choking them, and stop
ping their respiration. If, there
fore, we must have our house
garden in a room adjoining the
kitchen, we must take great pains
to change the air frequently, but
taking equal care to see that they
are not chilled by the too great
and sudden change of tempera-
ture.
The Speciosa Fuehsia will fail to
bloom II kept growing all the year
round. Let it rest during the
summer, if you desire it to bios
som during the winter. 1t needs
to be kept dry during September,
and at least half of its top to be
cut off; then re-pot it in the fall,
give it more water and keep it in a
shady place. An cast window is
best.
1t requires a soil of leaf-mould
and sand, and the pot-nake sure
it is a twelve inch one-nust have
the best of drainage. Great care
and close attention is needed to
make this plant a success.-Cana-
dian Horticulturist.