Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-12-29
POINSETTIAS.
From Miss M. L. D., Alexandria,

! From Miss M. L. D., Alexandria,
Perhaps my experience with poin-
settias will assist the lady desiring
blooms yearly on her original plant.
Years ago a Californian noted my
daily watering four dead-looking
little sticks in a pot on my office
desk and suggested a few things
whereby I might have four lovely
plants for the corners of my room.
In three years I was forced to give
two away for lack of space and
when I had to dispose of the re-
manning two in their ninth year
these two touched the ceiling and
each obscured the view from twin
windows.
There were blooms every year
from around Thanksgiving to after
Christmas and these increased in
size, with the plant finally attain
ing to larger than serving plates in
size. The foliage became larger and
dense and the trunk treelike, as
thick as broom handles. The plants
amazed a relative, native to Cali
fornia, and he remarked that he
was not aware he could grow them
like that in this area.
Besides needing two men to trans
port them in and out of doors twice
a year, their care was very simple
This Is what I was told to do and
did:
After they were sticklike, as first
mentioned, each tiny stalk was
planted i'll huge pot-the largest
YOU can buy, larger than water
buckets-and in good earth sup
piled by a nursery. These pots were
placed in the corners OF my living
room and watered q little ever SO
often to prevent drying out but not
enough to force growth until late
spring. BY some time in June the
foliage was lovely and they were
taken outdoors under the trees
where they were shielded from the
winds and too much direct sunlight
Then they needed more water, OF
course. BY mid-September they
were returned indoors to east and
south windows, where they stayed
until the following June, the same
procedure followed yearly.
The only disappointment I had
in them was the fact that all green
foliage dropped off when the color
blooms came, but old return once
the flowers ceased. This gave them
a wierd look, but the huge flowers
were so amazing and profuse they
were very much admired. In later
years the two plants had as many
as IS blooms between them in one
season.
Other than this, I know nothing
about the plant and have often
wondered whether they respond to
size OF container as we are told gold
fish do. I did no pruning as I noted
the plant bled if accidently broken
and 1t seemed to take care of itself
in the removal of weak sprouts. May
you have the best of luck!
X X X X :.
PINEAPPLE PIE
FRUITS IN CAKE.
(From Mrs. J. w. c., Greenbelt.)
Do you remember the person who
requested a recipe for a pineapple
pie that Isn't custard? This is one
OF our favorite pies and I hope it
is the kind you are asking for. Mix
medium can crushed pineapple, /
cup sugar COR q cup, according to
taste), "a tablespoons of -four, u
teaspoon salt, l beaten egg and u
teaspoon melted butter or marga-
rine. Pour into pastry lined pie
plate. Put strips of pastry across the
top and bake in a hot oven, 425 de-
grees about 80 minutes.
Also in regard to the amount of
fruits in fruit cake, from personal
experience I know that you can put
IN just as few fruits as you wish.
usually double the basic recipe, but
use only the one amount of fruit,
and the cakes are very good
SWEDISH TEA.
(Fron Mrs. E. E. L., Arlington.)
AS yet have not seen an answer
for the lady requesting the Swedish
tea recipe. So here is the one have.
To one quart of freshly made strong
tea add l quart best grape juice and
juice of lemon.
Place the following in a small bag,
yellow rind of l lemon (avoid
whiteD, 4 dozen cloves discard
soft part of head. 4 teaspoon
grated nutmeg, y inch cinnamon
stick, 2 dozen cardamom seed from
drug store) rolled fine. Add this bag
to kettle containing the tea and
juices. Simmer hours with vessel
tightly closed. Sweeten to taste q
to 3 rounded tablespoons sugar..
Swedes add dash of rum. Serve
hot with small cakes or cookies.
Have just moved here from Maine
and certainly enjoy RICH.
* X
BUTTERSCOTCH PIE FILLING?
From Mrs. II. w o., Alexandria,
Could some kind reader furnish
me with a recipe for butterscotch
pie filling? The kind I remember
from home and childhood was very
rich tasting and golden brown in
color, not thick" looking like the
packaged butterscotch buildings.
| X
MUSIC BOXES?
From G.. w. G., Arlington.l
Does any one know the name of
dealer, If any, who handles Swiss
music units locally?