The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-03-11

become too cold. A daylight
temperature of from 60 to 20 degrees
and a night temperature not below
SO is good
There is no better place for house
plants, and especially those which are
expected to bloom, than in bright,
sunny kitchen, where the moisture
will make the atmosphere more like
the air We have during our warmer
seasons.
Roses blooming in Winter are fire.
quently helped great deal by being
given little lime water poured upon
the earth and allowed to soak into
the soil about the roots. A rose can
not do any good in a sour soil, and
lime will help to sweeten the earth
if given in small quantities.
The so-called Christmas peppers
are not only pretty but very instruc-
tive to the young student in plant
ology. They are used extensively as
ornamental plants for their beauty.
They are not at all difficult to care
for, growing readily.
Ferns are very often killed or in
jured by kindness. 1t is Injurious
to these plants to keep the soil too
wet. Some folks imagine that be-
cause wild ferns usually grow in a
damp place, the domestic ferns must
be kept very moist or they will do
little or no good. Simply keep the
soil moderately damp and if it is
ever soaked thoroughly, it should not
be watered again until the soil has
dried out pretty we'll.
The Winter blooming begonia re-
quires a pretty good soil. Well de-
cayed old sod, or soil from directly
beneath the sod, well rotted COW ma
nure, and sharp sand about equal
parts with few small bits of char
coal through this mixture will make
an ideal soil for potting Winter
blooming begonias. Frequently be-
goniaS purchased from florists at the
holiday season need repotting after
a few weeks, and in such case the
above makes a fine potting earth.
The plants should continue to bloom
for weeks and months in such soil.
Hot blasts from hot air furnace
are very injurious to plants, and if
possible they should not be kept near
the register. A pail of water near
plants will in measure Offset the
evil effects of the overheated air.
Steam or hot water heat Is idea
for plant culture in the house, but
with care the plants may be grown
successfully in a dwelling with ho
air furnace. Frequent spraying will
be of great help under these condi
tions.
An occasional immersion of a plan
in warm water will do much to keel
down the red spider which does mos
of its injury in dry atmosphere.
January Is an ideal month to SOY
the seeds of many plants we wish t.
get started in the early Spring. Man
have plants ready to set in the ope
by the time the soil Is fit for outdoo
sowing of such seeds. Petunias
heliotrope, verbenias, candytuf
phlox and pinks, as we'll as man
other varieties of flowers may b
started much earlier than common /
this way,
The soil for sowing these seed
should be very light, free from a
refuse, sleved fine, spread level |
flat boxes, the seeds scattered thinl
in very slight burrows and just barrel
covered, pressed down firmly with
board, and the soil kept mois
Moisten with a fine spray, and kee
pane of glass over the box, raise
slightly at corners with match stick
If kept covered for the first few day
with cloth or paper to exclude tn
light aud help to retain the moisture
the seeds will germinate NOR
quickly.
During the severe Winter month
many persons have their house plant
frozen, and with little judciou
care much of such losses may b
avoided. Wind penetrates ever
nook, and many windows are ope
more about the easement than man
of us are aware, and it is astonisf
ing how readily frost will pas
through glass.
Paper is the best safeguard. PlaC