Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-12-14
ORLEANS COUNTY MONITOR WEDNESDAY DECEMBER IL 1910
HOUSEHOLD
WINTER WINDOW GARDENS.

them the same treatment then thai
they give them in summer. While the
fact is there should be as much d fer.
ence in the treatment as there is in the
two seasons.
In summer good deal of water will
be needed. In winter c0mparat1vely
small quantity will be sufficient. This
for two reasons: Evaporation takes
place slowly now, and most plants
will not be making the vigorous
growth characteristic of summer.
Therefore, during the winter, be care
full not to over-Water. Keep in mind
the on ~ rule that can be laid down
. regarding watering, which is this
When the surface of the soil looks drv.
apply water in sufficient quantities to
moisten all the soil in the pot. The
only way to be quite sure of this is to
give so much that little runs out
| through the drainage hole in the bot
! tom of the pot Then wait until the
surface soil takes on a dry look again
! before giving more.
Most amateurs are under the i'm
preston that fertilizer is needed If
their plants fail to grow as they think
they ought to, and they apply plant
food of one kind or another in reckless
fashion. Nine times out of ten the
result is disastrous. No plant should
be given rich food unless it is in &C.
tive growth. If a plant is standing
still, let it alone until it begins to
grow. Then is the time to apply your
fertilizer. Begin with small ouanti-
ties, proportionate to the early growth
of the plant. and increase the amount
as development increases. But be
careful about using too much. The only
way to judge about this is to watch
the effect on your plant. When its
growth is strong and healthy let we'll
enough alone, and be satisfied with
that, A rapid growth almost invari,
ably means a weak growth. from
which there is pretty sure to be re-
action later on.
Right here is the place to saw some
thing about the kind of fertilizers to
use. Perhaps the best all around one
is liquid made by teaching old COW
manure. Put quantity in a tub or
barrel, and pour on enough water to
cover it. When this water is the col
or of meat tea, it is in proper condi-
ton to apply to ones plants. 1t
ought not TO be used oftener than once
a fortnight. Once a month will be
often enough for some plants. Here,
as in watering, one must watch the
effect, and use his or her judgment as
to frequency and quantity.
But the liquid fertilizer spoken of
above is only obtainable in the country
or small villages. The best substi-
tute for it that | have any knowledge
of is fine bone meal. This should be
dug into the soil about the roots of the
plants in the proportion of a teaspoon
full to six inch pot. Observe the
effect. and be careful to not use enough
fertilizer to force the plants to which
it is applied.
All plants require fresh air in win
ter. More fail for want of it, | feel
quite sure, than from any other cause.
Make it rule to open doors and win
dOWs in the rooms where plants are
kept.o every pleasant day, letting out
the foul air that has accumulated in
side. and letting in air that Is pure
and fresh. Do this, and you will see
siclly, feeble plants taking on new,
healthy life and growing and blooming
as plants never do that are kept in hot,
close rooms from whose air the oXy-
gen has been exhausted by their hui
man and vegetable occupants,
All plants require plenty Of light
and most must have sunshine in order
to bloom we'll. Geraniums, heliotropes,
carnations, roses and all plants having
richly col0red flowers must have sun
shine in order to prove satisfactory.
If plants are frozen they should be
removed to a cool room as soon as
their condition Is discovered and show
cred with cold water. 1t is death TO
them to put them in warm place or
to apply warm water to them
Remember that, Keep the plants cool
and dark and the frost will leaya them
gradually without ruptUring .,tfeir
delicate tissues and they will he likely
to recover unless very severely frozen.
1t may be necessary to eat away some
. of their tenderest branches and per
haps some will have to be cut back tn
the root but nofk2 should be thrown
away until they have been given a
chance 60 make a. new start. The tenn
peratpf'e of the cool room spoken of
should be bat little above the frost
rotht. Jn cold nights it is we'll to
drop paper shades between the plants
and the glass.
Care must be taken to keep all hang.
J ing plants we'll supplied With water.
a'SS"NS- VI CHCII CAPcSdLG OIl dli Slu6S
! TO a temperature considerably higher
than that at the %indow-sill they viii
dry out very, rapidly. Water shoulC
he applied daily.
Plants eight to be turned at leas
once a Week to prevent them becomitts
one-sided. Give all sides of them ;Al
, equal chance at the light. Place tn
,Afger ones at the sides of the window
r and the smaller ones between. Thi
enables both classes to get the benef
of the$unshine without getting in eac
= others way. Narciss@s may be grow
froF. oulbs ported in fall. All flowe
Lovers should force these plants: Hol
!Hnd hyacinths, tulips and Roman hys
enths for they can be brought int
r. bloom in mldwinter with very littl
trouble. For a winter garden us
Chinese primroses, callas, cyclomer
and begouias with such prettily-fol
u aged plants as coleus ferns and trat
" escantia-all common plants of tn
y easiest culture. A healthy geraniu
D. in full bloom will afford vastly MOI