The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-18
ON PLOTTING PLANTS.
A Winter Garden Wen Worth the
Attention 1t Receives.

From the New York Tribune
When the cool days come they bring the
desire TO save as much of the summer as
possible by the creating of winter gar
den. Cuttings for winter blooms potted
late in July or early in August are we'll
rooted by October and ready to go into
the winter garden when the cold nights
come. But do not bring them in too soon;
they should first be placed on the piazza
southern exposure. If possible-and put
out in warm autumn rains, not being TAX
en- in the house before November. Plants,
like people. do not thrive with wholesome
vigor when they cease to breath the outer
air, and in the house, peed fresh air con-
stantly. Vs er
A direct draught of cold air should not
blow upon the winter garden. Lower the
windows a little at the top, and be sure
the room is well filed with hot air while
the fresh, cold air is rushing in. A sudden
chill will give a serious setback to growth
and bloom.
Probably more mistakes are made in
watering window plants than in any other
part of their culture. DO not keep the
saucers filled with water; 1t has a ten
deney to sour the roots. Do not wet
little; even if the top of the earth looks
damp after sprinkling the roots may be
very dry. Water freely, until the mois
ture oozes out of the bottom of the pot,
then you can be sure the roots are wet,
and the little water left In the saucer
after a good top wetting will soon be
sucked up.
Sponge or syringe the foliage. A brass
syringe or rubber atomizer, such as for
lists use, is best. The leaves thoroughly
4 afN will 10
free from insects. Carefully remove the
dead leaves and branches, and stir the
earth occasionally above the roots, to pre-
vent its packing, which would keep the
water from permeating the soil.
Plants will not thrive If the air of the
room is too dry: they dislike furnace heat
and gas. If the air of the room is unus-
ually dry and hot, sprinkle the plants twice
day A tablespoonful of household am
monia In the watering pot twice week is
an excellent Strengthened, and will make
plants uxuriant in foliage and bloom.
Plants are much like human beings; they
often need judiclous letting alone. Aft
err they have had their drink and shower
bath give them plenty of sunshine and
fresh air, and leave them to work out their
own salvation. Fussing too much over
plants hinders their fun development. The
amount of heat required for plants is about
the same as for human beings, 65 or 20 de-
grees in the daytime and so or 60 degrees
at night.
In taking up garden plants for winter
blooming cut back one-half. Fill the bot
tom of the pots with small stones before
putting in the soil. to make the drainage
good. Good rich garden soil, leaf mould
from the woods or potting-soil from a
greenhouse (where it can always be pur-
chased is all you need for your plants,
with admiXtures of sand IL particular
plant requires it. When reporting plants,
use same soil as above. In reporting do
not put plants in larger pots unless their
root growth requires it, This can be as
certained by turning the plant out in the
hand. Geraniums seldom need larger pots,
because their root growth is small. Fuch-
slas, whose roofing is large, usually need
a larger pot.
Repot plants in the autumn or late sum-
mer to insure good winter blooms. Ge-
ranium cuttings potted in July or early in
August will bloom in November. They
should be put in small pots, five-inch size,
as they will not bloom until the pot is
flied with roots, and, their root growth
being small they require little room. They
like tin cans best Pint tin vegetable cans,
with holes punctured in the lower part
for drainage, are excellent, as the tin
holds the moisture longer than the red
clay pots.
Hellotrope-usually very difficult TO
raise-is well started in a bottle of wa
ter. When the bottle is filed with roots
put IN soil, using one-third sand If given
plenty of sun and water the heliotrope
win richly reward the careful winter gar
dener by filing the air with its frag-
rance,
Ambition demands plenty of root room,
ne q
good-sized plant. Then it is a great add
dition, with Its fine growth and bloom,
10 the winter greenery. Petunias need
small pots and are better satisfied II you
forget to water them occasionally
Sweet alyssum and candytuft are good
winter boomers, and the morning-glory
win cover south windows with a wealth
of beautiful blooms. The always lovely
is one of the best and most
SNOWY plants In the garden. Castor beans
planted in pots in the late summer win
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