Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-06-15
SUMMER CARE OF
the HOUSE PLANTS
Should Be Grown in Open Air
During Season-set Some
in Borders.

in Borders.
1t takes a hardy plant to stand the
hry atmosphere, variations in tempera-
ture M lack of oxygen, which almost
every hous plant has to struggle
ngainst during even the most favorable
winter In the house. When summer
comes. therefore. many a plant will be-.
lound to have been weakened some
what by this difficult season, through
whlch 1T has cheered and lent beauty to
the house. At the end of the season,
each plant should be inspected with q
careful eye and provision made for it's
rummer rest and recuperation.
In every case where 1t Is possible, tho
IN the open air during the warm
months. Cut flowers take their place
Indoors SO that they can be spared and
put OF doors, while growing strong for
next season. They d a touch OF
tropical beauty to he grounds or
largest palms n rubber plants it is
well to set the palm or fern which has
been amp into a pot for so long,
directly into the open soil. To do
this. the plant should be held firmly
inverted n turned out of the pot. The.
from the roots. and 1t should be set
firmly In q hole made to receive It,,
Ferns should be set in a partly shaded
situation and given plenty Of water
Palms n rubber plants can stand,
more sun. Begonias do we'll set out In
the open border as do cacti ana cen.
fury plants. Should the cheerful gera.,
mum be numbered among the house
plants. 1t may be bedded out or set
In the veranda boxes. Plants too large
Tor this treatment will send out fresh.
Leaves and thrive set out in their usual
pots or tubs in favorable positions.
Every plant needs reporting or q new
supply OF soil OF some sort in tho
spring. or once a year. The nutritive
elements of the soil must be renewed
from time to time. Fol- general use In
reporting good loan dug from the r
der, mixed with well rotted barnyard'
manure. will furnish the necessary ele-
ments for growth. II 1t Is possible, "a
into the woods and bring home q sup
ply Of rich. dark leaf mold from under
1t Is made will make 1t rich in humus
and an ideal soil. The soil we'll mixed.
and stray earthworms carefully ex-
tracted. the plants may be turned out,
and repotted in new soil. A crock may
be placed over the hole in the bottom,
10 insure good drainage, and the earth,
packed so tightly that the Who'll may
oe turned out n put back without
breaking the mold Of earth. Three,
quarters OF an inch should be left az
SIc Top OF the pot Tor water.
1t Is often desirable to reduce or,
keep the size OF the plant the same,
u SO. The plant must be carefully cut
back. Two or three main stems should
be retained and the rest cut out with,
q sharp knife. The largest roots should
ut the same time be cut out. The rest
should be approximately the same size,
ns the top Of the plant. SO that root
rnd branch must be cut to correspond
FROM the shoots Topped of in the case,
OF geraniums, begonias and the like,
cuttings can be made and the supply,
The possibility Of growing valuable.
plants from the stock already on hand
Is worth attention. There is no more
attractive present for q friend than,
p we'll grown plant and old plants die,
and need their places filled. To make
either a green or a hardwood cutting a
healthy bit should be chosen. Then.
with a sharp knife. a clean cut should
be made close below a node. that is, be-
low n Of the small ridged places
which divide the stem of into sections.
Begonias will root from cuttings made
Of one leaf or a section Of 1t. The cut
ting should be planted in small parts
in a soil mixed OF sand with a little
loan, with a layer OF sand at the ton
and Of peat at the bottom of the pot.
Five inches Is q good length for q cut
ting. The caves should be cut small to
lessen Transportation. After a few weeks
during which the cuttings viii have
rooted. they should be shifted MO
larger pots. with stronger soil.
Ferns can not be grown from cut
tings. but by simply dividing he root
pnd plant. two ferns can be grown from
Dne. Palms. rubber plants and cacti
can not be p~ropagated outside the
greenhouse. but by beginning with
Gmall. cheap plants. large and expen-
pive e can be developed.
Often at the. n Of the season rubber
plants will have lost the leaves from
The lower part. n with only q tuft
pf leaves at the end, present a forlorn
pnd scra8gy appearance. A leREy rub.
Der plant a be cured by making. at.
suitable distance from the leaves. to
make a symmetrical plant. a sharp cut
INTO the stem below a node. Around,
the stem at the place where the cut is
made should be bound a damp sphagum
moss. At the n of a few weeks the
plant will have sent out roots from
he cut place. Then the top OF the.
plant should be completely severed
rom the old stock and ported. The
'esult will be two rubber plants from
one u%nsightly one, for the old plant
tfter this treatment Is likely to nut
cut new leaves.
BLACK AND WHITE FANS.
For The bride. the sweef o;rI ~roa