The Washington herald., 1910-02-10

on the north side. you may still have
some beautiful Farlyense, maiden hair,
or asparagus ferns, for all ferns thrive
best in the shade. that is, Of course, IL
given plenty Of water.
House Plants at Small Cost.
House plants. with pot and all. can BE-
bought reasonably. Shoots and sprouts
sell for almost nothing; gardeners and
florists are generally glad to dispose OF
them during the setting out and the
pruning season. Broad, full Ieaved ge-
raniUms in fun bloom are often sold IS
low as 80 cents. But half the charm and
Joy Of cultivating indoor flowers comes
from trimming and training the wee, IN
significant gaunt-looking sort into al
imposing plant with a glory Of breaking
buds and clean foliage. It doesn't al
ways take an expert 10 do this. either.
though experience IS always an asset.
The geranium, which IS one OF the
most popular Of house plants. requires
fairly rich sOil-f1orists as a rule get their
ground for this plant in woodland fence
corners, where It Is continually being
fortified by decaying leaves and twigs.
The soil OF ported flowers hardens easily.
owing, no doubt 10 the hard water used
Ia sprinkling. which always leaves
sandy deposits and causes it 70 settle.
For this reason II should be IOOsened or
stirred Up with a garden knife about
once in two months. a healthy, growing
plant will exhaust the fertility Of the
soil In a small pot in a short time, hence
the importance Of allowing a tub or yes
sci IN proportion 70 the size Of the plant
Farmers believe in a rotation Of crops
that IS. allowing a field 10 lie faIIow or
TO go as pasturage after a year OF great
productivity. From which II follows that
flower son should be frequently renewed.
Fertilizers. especially the patent kind,
should not De experimental with. as it
may unduly force growth, which is Ike
~ 70 be harmful in the end.
Cactus Needs But Little Water.
The cactus naturally requires a DRY.
alkaline soil, such as &c has in fits nativ5
haunts. II need not be watered moro
than once IN three months, and then not
too generously; II absorbs all its mols-
ture and most Of It's food from the air
in fact. frequent sprinkling OF excessive
drenching invariably proves fatal 70 f.
When you get a plant the origin and
character OF which you are not familiar
with, II is a good idea 10 look Il up In
the encyclopedia. When you know the
native home of your flower you can make
a neat guess as to the treatment and
conditions il will best thrive under.
Gala lilies. violets, and hyacinths when
ported can stand daily watering and
thrive the better for il: but half a pint
of soft water-cistern rainwater is the
best-should be the maximum allowance
at one time.
Dahlias. gillyfOwers. carnations, digi-
tails. and roses want garden soil OF
medium richness only, and they need not
be watered more than once in two or
three days. Palms and aIoes hail from
Egypt and the dry East. and they can
stand any amount Of drought, though
they need a far richer soil than the cac-
tus. Ferns which literally grow IN the
water, naturally need a liberal bath once
or twice a day.
All house plants should be infinitely
examined about once a month TO detect
the presence Of worms or insects. and
20 remove all dead blossoms and dry.
limp, or blemished leaves. The plant
that is attacked by insects should be
kept isolated from the others after
mild application Of weak salt water.