The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-12

the dull winter days. Curtains must be
hung, rugs laid, a touch of color added
here and there, and everything possible
done to replace the soft, cool atmosphere
of the summer room with the cozy COM
fort of winter.
Quite an important item in the trans
formation are the flowers that will grow
indoors. Summer effects are obtained
with palms and rubber plants and CEN
turtles, but. while they add in securing
many a delightful, hidden nook, they
should be supplemented with bright
Towering plants.
The indoor garden should be most at
tractiVe at Christmas, and to make it
blossom then the plants must be potted
in the fall. Geraniums are easiest to
grow for the novice, and make a de-
lightful bit of coloring in a sunny win
dow. Do not take plants which have
been hard at work all summer. Rather
select hardy slips which have no bios
SONS, and set them out in the window
box. The box should be filled with rich
soil, from which all worms and stones
have been carefully removed Let the
box remain outdoors until late in the
season, that the plants may root we'll
before they begin to branch and bios
som. Cover the box with fertilizer, and
gradually aecustom the plants to
warmer temperature. They may be
placed in a heated room early in No
vember, and should begin to blossom
about December 1.
Begonias are also easy to grow, and
make a very attractive window garden.
entire windows with them, and during
the winter showed with pride thirty
varieties, all in perfect condition. Yet
they caused her little or no trouble In
September they were pOtted, and on the
first chilly day brought into the house.
They were carefully Watered at a reg
ular hour each day, but aside from that
received little attention. Yet at Christ
mas time they were fair to see."
Vines make effective bits of decora-
ton when grown hanging in pots. A
pretty suggestion is to take a jar in
which preserved ginger is purchased, fill
it with water and grow in it some sim
pie trailing vine, such as Wandering
Jew or myrtle. The water should not
be changed. It will remain sweet if
you throw into it a few pieces of char
coal. of course, the jar should be re-
filled from time to time, as the water
evaporates in the heat of the room.
Bulbs for Christmas blooming should
be potted as early as possible. The pot,
into which two or three stones have
been placed to facilitate drainage,
should be filled with a mixture of loan
and manure. If hyacinths are planted
they should be half their depth in soil.
Tulips and narcissus should be just COW
cred with earth. One bulb should be
placed in a four inch pot or two in a
six inch
After the bulbs have been planted wa
ter them thoroughly and place in a cool
dark place. This is a very important
part of the treatment, because the roots
must strengthen well before the bulbs
begin to shoot A successful bulb grow
er of New York buries his under ashes
in a cold portion of his cellar. At the
end of six weeks he takes them out ex-
amines them, and if root tendrils fill
the soil he brings them gradually to the
light and warmth. If the roots are not
numerous enough, back go the pots into
the ash piles. The ashes are kept
moist, but not wet.
Single tulips and golden yellow mar
cissus are the best varieties for forcing.
hon hull he 70 Lao
them in a cool temperature, otherwise
the blossoms will not last long.
The Chinese lily, grown in water,
makes an attractive Christmas plant.
Take a jardiniere perhaps eight inches
in depth, cover the bottom three inches
deep with pebbles, among which the
roots fasten themselves; put in a couple
of sticks of charcoal and after that the
bulbs. They should be half covered
with water and the vessel set in dark
cool place, receiving similar treatment
to bulbs planted in soil. After roots
have been thoroughly formed, these
bulbs, too, should gradually be brought
TO light and heat