The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-08-02
MAKING YOUR HOME NICER

There are several things which the
people of Bingham county could do
to make their homes more comfort
able and to make them more beau
tiful, and yet would cost little or
no money and very little work. Here
are some of them:
The house that stands out in the
burning sun can be protected from
the heat by vines that grow quickly
and which grow early in the spring.
time so the house will be covered
over by the time hot weather comes
on. This will make it cooler and
more comfortable in the house, and
will enable the housekeeper to keep
food supplies, especially butter, milk
and meats in better condition. There
are several kinds of vines that may
be used for this purpose. Hops grow
we'll, but sometimes they are in
tested with insects that are objec-
tionable. Virginia creepers are much
better, are more beautiful and are
not so likely to have aphis or other
insects. When the frost comes on
in the fall they become gorgeous in
varigated colors. Virginia creepers
can be obtained at small cost from
almost any nursery, and they need
only to be set and started once, to
be permanent. They cling to the
house, shed their leaves in the fall
and leaf out again early in the
spring.
There are several kinds of clematis
that can be secured at nurseries, and
there are wild ones along the streams
and in the mountains of this county.
They can be found trailing up over
trees and brush, and in the latter
part of summer they have a white
snowy bloom.
Engleman's ivy is very beautiful
vine that clings to walls of brick or
wood, and gives fine protection from
the sun. 1t can be trained to go
anywhere by giving it little atten-
tion while it is growing the first year
or two, and then for years it will
need nothing but moisture. All of
these various vines need only to be
set in deep rich soil, and when once
started and the vines trained or
lodged where they are wanted, may
be left alone for years without at
tention excepting to supply moisture.
They should be transplanted in the
spring or fall when the sap is down,
and should be cut back nearly to
the ground when taken up and
moved Do not plant vine under
the caves and expect it to take the
beating of the rain water and -four
ish. If there are no cutters on the
caves, place a board or trough so
1t will keep the water from the roof |
from beating on it or scattering it |
with muddy water, for that suffocates |
It. A plant breathes thru it's leaves,
and the leaves must be kept clean.
Arrange your trough or gutter so it |
will conduct rain water to the roots |
4 you like, but never let it pour or
splash on the leaves or where it will
pack or cake the earth about the
roots. Bring it along so it will
merely soak in about the roots. Be
sure to have the ground loose and
'ich; do. not dig hole the size of
he cluinp of roots and then expect
he plant to drill into the hard
ground in all directions and flourish.
Vow is good time to prepare the
lole and fill 1t in with rich soil and
old manure, in each spot
where you intend to set a vine next
all or next spring. One root and
inc for every twenty or thirty feet
4 wall is enough.
The editor of this paper is gather
ng something like a million flower
eeds of different kinds that are
eeded to make the home of this
ounty more beautiful than they are
ow, and later will find a way to
ct the seeds to those that want
hem. Better cut this article out
nd save it for reference If you are
ding to get into the game with IL
ines. You can grow vines at your Il
ouse, no matter how far back in Il
he desert it is, but you will have to y
,heme little. If you are troubled :
18th stock and fowls, you can fence
place three feet square against
he house and win the game in that 8
,spect. II