The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-17
~vp CARE OF HOUSE PLANTS.

ANl4
Giants and others fail, although seem
;n0Iv the conditions are the same,
There is something about houseplante
that is not well understood. They
.aem to flourish under little attentions
and to fade when neglected in any de.
GREE. A little knowledge of their
characteristics make agreat difference
in their welfare. Some like sun and a
high temperature and others do best
when kept comparatively cool, says
Farmers Voice.
Bsgonias, coleus. and other soft
stemed plants cannot be given too
much sunshine o too high a tempera-
ture in an ordidar dwelling house.
Fuchias, carnations, parlor ivy, geranl
INNS and others that have woody stems
and tough leaves do better when kept
out of the direct rays OF the sun or at
a little distance from a south window.
The great trouble with most house
plants is that they die of thirst. If
kept in porous pots in an ordinary
living room it is almost impossible to
keep the earth in the pots moist. We
have found that glazed pots are best
Tor house plants, provided there is
drainage at the bottom to prevent the
earth in the pots from becoming too
wet.
Old tin cans are about as good as
anything that a be found for house
plants. Tney occupy but little space
on the window-Jhelt and plants four
ish in them if properly fed and cared
for.
It is best to let old plants except
fuchias, begonias, cactus and iVies die
and start new plants from cuttings
each year. The old plants become
s.raggy and Ill shaped in a year and
the new ones bloom best.
The earth that is put into the pots is
a most important factor in growing
house plants. The best mixture we
ever used was COW manure and clear
sand in about equal quantities, piled
I'D until thoroughly rotted and iucor
porated into a homogeneous mass. II
10 this is added a little Of the f)Wer
iertiliza r that is sold by f)rists the re
suit will be altogether satisfactory.
Those plants which have rough or
hairy leaves should be sprinkled at
last once a week to wash eff the dust,
and sm~ooth-leaved plants should be
carefully washed with a soft cloth
every week. If the dust is allowed to
accumulate on the leaves it will pre-
vent the plants from breathing and
they will die sooner or later. IL little
white worms get into the soil in the
pots stick some matches into 1t with
the heads down aud they viii DOT die,
the sulphur and phosphorus being
to them. If red spiders 0, fl 90
them cover the plants with an
old Re wspaper and tumtg8te them by
burning tobacco under the paper.
AS soon as q leaf begins to show
of fading cut it off, and as soon
as blossoms begin TO pass their prime
remove them so as to prevent the for
of seed.
1t ia not practicable to keep an even
temperature Ia the average dwelling
loIse, but house plants can be made
D dJurieh even If there is a vide vRria
ion in the temperature through the
and night. II the TEN pe%ratur3 is
ab)ve she frsezjng point the hp~
srs will live an9 fl ,urish slsh0ugh not
lIise 50 vigorously as they would If
he temperature never runs down be
about so degrees.
Where house plants are kept it is
pest to keep a vessel Of water constant
= on the heating stove. Tnis keeps
he air in the room somewhat moist
md prevents the plants from drying
yus. This condition ia also better for
.be people who liv9 in the room as it
Keeps down the finer PARTICLES Of dust
hat always bat in a room that Is
leated and kept perfectly dry.
House plants are wholesome COM
iani5ns as they absorb the deadly car
ionic acid gas exhaled from the lungs
nd thus purify the air in rooms where
hey are kept. By doing this they be
,ome not only an ornament but a
of protection from disea'es that
from breathing impure air.
Toe Western farmers are now pres
,aro41o thu S,uthoFn faPmerS are