The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-12-02
FOR PLANT LOVERS.
CHARACTER AND HABITS OF
HOUSEHOLD ORNAMENTS.
Different Specimens Vary Greatly In
Their Reauirements-Not All Need
Sunlight to Attain Perfection of
GroWth-Carc Of Palms.


Many do not think II is wise L
have plants In their living rooms dun
ing the winter. while others are care
less OF the wisdom of 1t, but woul'
not be happy unless they had greer
! and Towering plants in one or more
rooms OF their homes, To see th'
pains housewives take to have plaIt'
| in their homes, often under the mos
! adverse circumstances. leads one Il
believe that the love OF nature and O
! The beautiful is deeply planted with
IN the character OF most women.
II YOU are going to have plants
towering and otherwise, In your
nome it is of the utmost importance
to know the character and habits OF
each plant, If YOU wish to cultivate
and have them flower successfully.
Some should be placed where they
get the direct rays of the sun at mid
day, while others. like salamanders,
will stand any amount Of heat and do
best at a south window Few plants
will grow and bloom without sun
shine, but there are a few which
make a lovely show even in the north
window. All kinds of ferns love Just
such situation; sweet vioIets will
grow among the ferns and bloom
freely. filing the room with their
sweet odor The varieties of begon-
las which depend for their beauty on
falage rather than flowers do well
without sun We have even seen be-
gonias covered with bloom and per
feet masses of foliage which had
reached that state of perfection With
ont ray of sunshine.
For south windows geraniums fuch-
sias, sweet alyssum, heliotropes, car
nations and oxtails will give perfect
and mass Of bloom. They
can also be grown in an east Or west
window, but geraniums particularly
will not do so we'll any place as in a
south window Begonias, callas, fuch /
sias. feyerfew. mignonette, all do we'll |
whore they get sun but part Of the
day.
Any of the following plants are to /
be relied on either for bloom or foil /
age. as stated They are particularly I
suited TO the furnace-heated dust
adened air Of our dwellings, and do
TOT need much attention:
The India rubber tree (ficus elias
ical stands at the head of decorative
house plants which will stand hot,
Try atmosphere. large, well grown
pecimen will have leaves four or five
inches wide and nearly foot long.
I does not drop it's leaves easily, 4
ONE remaining on several years The
caves should be busted frequently,
he plant requires plenty of light and
'ater. and makes a better growth If
uppled with plant food once week.
Dracoena terminals is another very
rnsmentaI long-leaved plant. Like
he ficus. il will stand a dry atmos-
here. Its leaves are dark crimson,
larked lengthwise with lighter
ink. f'he plant needs rep0tting
Dring and fall During the winter
re leaves must be wiped off with a
amp sponge as often as the dust ac-
lmulates on them. 1t requires some
lnshne and considerable water
Another plant which will thrive in
lie same situation is the screw pine
landamus iavanacus). P. variegatus ,
particularly desirable. 1t has long. ,
arrow, dropping leaves. variegated ,
it'll lighter green. almost white. It )
Ill do well with but little sunshine. !
1t needs plenty of light 1t requires
1t moderate quantity Of water
Most of the palm family are suited a
r pot culture. and do well when r
ven a place where they are secure
ON freezing. They will do with ! n
tie light. and for this reason are de- ~
rable ornaments for the hall or the n
airway landing. They do not, how. II
Ter. object to sunshine, and are a Il
addition to any collection v
plants They should be kept in a Il
ther small pot They require
atty soil. mixed with sand. aud plenty Il
water Liyistona chinensis is one 81
the most elegant varieties. but S,
tania bourbonica and the dwarf pal
atto- sabal adamsoniD are also very
cd.
Other ANIMALS well worthy of pot 81
lture are sweet alyssum, nignonette A
d morning gories. The latter are Sc
e for hanging baskets and for pots. a
hen grown in pot on trellis a "
IT high they will show perfect 81
ISIS of Aowers In the house the on
wers remain out all day and are II
out half the usual size. er
ca
a.,