Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-21
PLANTS AS PETS.
Varieties Of Palm Gen.'a''y Selected
for Winter.
They Give An Air Of ChserIuIness and Briahtnes:
to the Home.

All during the summer months wbar,
even the poorest person can eniov tba
flowers by simply strolling through
the parks. fields and fore>t AMI
flowers seem to grow as utterly with
out assistance as "Torsy, reached her
teens, but little though is given to the
subject of raising or caring for indoor
plants. But when the winter an
pro3Ches as the present tempara ture
reminds us that it will soon, plan; be-
gin to formulate by which an air Of
cheerfulness and brightness NAV he
impaired to the house during the long
months to follow. And many are the
plainly green plots or blossom laden
plants that are being carried from
C:entilc&lly regulated greenhouse
where they We're tended in the hot
season. when the world did not want
them-to the dry atmosphere of the
parlor or dining-room.
Of course. all the people who thus
( adorn their households do not admire
the same variety Of plant, but because
the time and trobule to be expended
! must be taken into consideration. the
hardy specimen of many leaves is gem
orally seieC ted. and the experienced
have learned that, with the exception
oil the rubber tree. the most satisfac-
tory is the palm. True. in captivity.
Ike the canary whose music thrills
the forest. but has only squeaky notes
wncn fastened in a cage. the pam
loses much of its original beauty and
reVer flowers; but. anyway. it is the
green which suggests living nature.
and the presence Of a group of the e
plants in room at once transform its
medioclity into subtle suggestiveness
OF warm ATTITUDES. delightful TO one
coming in from the storm and cold.
Their beautiful simplicity appeals to
the emotional nature Of humanity, and
contempla ton of the stately calmness
Of grove of them invariably serves
10 recall some Of the numerous pass
ages Of Scripture in which allusion is
made 10 these trees of the desert But
aside from their aesthetic value, palms
are such thoroughly practical plants
that they are decidedly the easiest to
become adapted TO the conditions of
the home. Coal dust and cinders
never disturb the even tenor of their
floral way. and dust may settle on
their smooth leaves without seriously
X,
certain rules must be observed to pre-
vent these domesticated plants from
taking on a scraggy appearance that
aowls of long continued neglect.
They must not be allowed to freeze,
which is liable to happen after their
owners learn what a very low temper
7tura tha,, Gan stana and tho no+s IN
ycbic,, The a.e nIacoa for the winte-
must NOT be large This ruIe is 50 Of
tap disrcpardad that florists have
grown weary of telling customers what
-oiIs their Mains Ambitious amateurs
irn,u;ne that If rho nIant is nIaced in
. ia,deni.-e many sizes bigger than !,
perfect fit and nearly drowned with
IN a,noInt Of wafer out Of all nronor-
ton to the tiny shoot, the latter will
bn forced into growing overtime and
,hus devotion into a gigantic tree in
far less than the normal period for
sl,ch changes. But as might be expect
il, tho result is that the palm absorbs
TIE water TOO freely. the roots decay,
.,ns the soil becomes rancid
If p large not is to be used at all.
only a nalm expert should be entrust-
I'd with the task Of watering it. and
~. inaxnerienced had best select a re-
,.e,,+,c,a obor, one.third the diameter
~ tho ton of the plant which viii
crar,n tbe roots sufficiently to enable
,har, IN take In all the water pouIe |
i,+o 80 s,;, IF &c also wrong to allow
H. not +o ramein IN 4 lard mere tina
Contains water. instead. the leav, S
shn,,1d n. washed with a IT. 1noisten
n ennnra ard them the plants sannl
ha ~ vhAre they can resei1 G tie
,.*,.-,,ast ,ove If ne sun
,,.ha host Mains FOR tie home arr t. 9
,.,, n..in, nd smaller specimens #
the dwarf fan palm Of Italy. Of watch