Evening star., 1922-10-27
Health and Thrift in the Home

obtained from a potted plant for the
living room. Some of these flowers
have smooth petals and others have
petals that are fringed. and the col
white. No potted plant that grows
makes a handsomer Christmas gift
than a cyclamen in full bloom. This
plant must not be kept too warm and
the pot must be well draired. The
flowers last long time when cut.
The plants will supply an abundance
Of cut flowers for vases and to give
away.
That lovely flower. the azalea. with
its wealth Of flowers. will do well II
kept in q cool place and watered
properly. 1t must never be stinted
good SO that the water will run on
freely. Many housewives are unsuc-
cessful with azaleas because they
place the pots in jardinieres and al
low water to stand in the jardinieres
until the soil IN the pots becomes
sour. The pots should not be placed
in jardinieres at all.
The azalea 10 not specially good for
q living room because 1t requires cool
er quarters. Near 4 window in the
dining room Is better. because a din
ing room IL usually cooler for a great
er length OF time at least. Many
azaleas are given away as Christmas
presents, DuI d StOIt tltuc dlttI dI I
consigned to the ash can. If they are
carefully watered. being sure that
they do not get dry or over-watered,
new growth and flower buds will
form and they will be in flower all
winter.
A good bloomer is primula OBJ
conica (primrose). 1t often remains
in flower the whole year through 1t
likes the sun. but Is not very sensi-
tive to temperature. 1t should be
kept as far as possible from j radta-
tor or other source of heat.
The easiest grown bulbous plant is
the oxalis. The bulbs can be bought
at the florists at almost any time,
and all that Is necessary is to put
them In good garden soil and give
them some water. II the soil is kept
damp it will he only short time be-
fore the leaves show above the soil,
and in few weeks the plants will be
in bloom. The oxalis can be grown
either in pots on the window shelf
or in hanging pots. as the stems
droop enough to cover the pots.
Ferns and Other Foliage Plants.
Foliage plants. like ferns, do not
require sunshine as long as they are
grown in a window having an abun-
give good results from these plants
Many kinds of ferns may be grown
successfully by the non-professioaal
grower. the Boston fern being among
tho most popular and easy to grow
The pots should be placed in jardi-
Mere with some moss AT the bottom
They must never be allowed to dry
out and they will suffer II over
watersd An application of lukewarm
water with syringe will keep the
leaves clean and prevent attacks of
insects
BUY ferns as early in the fall as
possible. When ferns perish quickly
II Ia usually because they have been
transferred directly from the cool
moist atmosphere Of greenhouse or
the woods to the hot. dry air OF a
living room. the shock being too much
for them.
An India rubber plant is hardy and
demands only fairly good soil. plenty
of water and constant care of the
leaves. The tall, slender plants fit
in almost any place In the house. All
that is necessary to insure bright
leaves on a rubber plant is the fire.
quent sponging CT the leaves with
clean water