Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-31
THE CARE OF PLANTS IN WINTER,
Their Removal to the House or fro-
feciinn Ont of Doors.

MANY of the plants that have blOOHed
during the summer and early Iall may DC
utilized next season II they can De hepe
through the winter In good coHultloH'
Indeed. many Of them that form cluhps'
Iil,a me Gamma. viii make stronger ana
hetter nIants with each succeeding season
if the roots are well cared for during lhe
winter II IS not necessary TO have them
freeze and die If they are taken up with
care and stored in a room or cellar
where the temperature is above freezing
hut not 50 warm as TO start growth pre-
maturelv. These remarks do not apply
40 ANNALS that grow and bloom from
seed the first season, but to the taNoIlte
tender plants. such as geranlum5, heilo-
tropes. begonias, gladiolus, cahhas' cara
dums. dahlias, and the ike. bladloius
bulbs should be taken from the ground as
soon as the tops Wither and Ole, ana alteF
being dried in the sun Tor a lew days me
tons should be cut of and the bulbs spread
ort i'm 81 dry room or cellar for
few weeks. The old bulb at the bottom
of The new one, may then be taken on
and the new bulbs, for next seasons
plauting. packed in a dry box and Kept
i'm a dry. cool room during the winter
Caunas and other roots should be aug
after a frost and packed I'm boxes OF dry
sand placed I'm cellar where they VIII
ko.p drv until the early spring.
Soft plants, like geraniums, should be
taken up with ball Of earth around the
roots and packed closely together IN boxes
not over four or five inches deep. the
spaces between the plants being hlled with
soil. They should be watered during
the winter only sufficiently to keep them
alive. but not enough 10 start the growth
of the top. Tne place where SUCH plants
are 10 be wintered must be frost proof
and dry. but not warm. II they doomed
very early last season, or If they ala not
bloom much during the summer the
plants may be taken out Of the boxes IN
February. pOtted in good soil, ana
brought into the window, where they viii
bloom in early spring long before could be
safely set in the open ground. Later they
may be transferred 10 the open ground
in the pots. If desired.
Plants and vines which are tender, and
which cannot be taken up because OF
their size, should be given some winter
protection. After hard frOsts, and just
before the ground may be expected 10
freeze. pack coarse manure. leaves, or
straw about their base several inches
deep. holding the material in place with
stones or sticks. This protection viii
insure a strong growth the next season.
Even mound OF earth three or four
inches high will be of benefit. and the
added strength Of growth or earliness Of
starting next spring will more than pay
for the slight trouble Of protecting them.
The material used for protection 10 not
removed in the spring until all the frost
is out of the ground.
Thousands Of dollars are thrown away
every year on ferns and palms simply
because the culture Of the plants is not
understood. 1t Is not claimed that palms
and ferns are easily grown. OF that they
are suited TO any window and the at
mospheric conditions OF every home. ON
the contrary. many Of the most beautiful
specimens shown In the n1rlsts window
cannot be successfully grown or even
kept In good condition IN the window OF
the average liVing-rOOm. ON the other
hand. there are several varieties Of both
ferns and palms that Will flourish II 4
few simple rules Tor their care are OBJ J
served. The jardiniere Is intended simply
To cover the ordinary clay pot IN which
the plant Is grown. Yet one finds them
uIled with soil and the plant set there
in. 10 be- gradually killed by the soggy
soil rOtting the roots Although moisture
is essential 10 success in fern culture,
the Dot containing the plant must be well
drained. o. .hD plant viii die. The best
SOL for ferns is mixture Of sht Garden
not. being alx an inch OF rxo de- p
with pieces of broken pots brick. or
stones 10 secure proper drainage
Ferns should be placed where they will
be- IN the shade most OF the time. although
an occasional bit OF sunshine will DO them
no harm. \ 7-inch pot, illed with one
or two plants OF the larger. or with four
or five plants of the smaller varieties OF
ferns may be readily moAd from ore
room to another II desired Sr decorative