Year: 1861

[Wiitten for the Cincinnati Press


Care and Management of Plants Kept In


Rooms.


Our entrance upon the month of Decem-
Der amply sdmonishes US to be vigilsnt in
adjusting and arranging plants for the cold
weather that must soon ensue. Such as are
designed to be kept indoors during winter,
will here claim our particular attention.
During the severe frosty weather of winter,
plants should be removed from near the
windows of the room in which they are
kept to the center or interior of the room
during night, being less likely to be injured
than if permitted to stand in the immediate
vicinity of the window, where the cold is
known to be much more intense than it is
in a more central portion of the room.


In tie admission of air into the room
where plants are situated, you should be
careful to consult the state of the thermom-
eter, and if it is found to be below thirty Eve
degrees of Fahrenheit when exposed in the
shade, it will be unsafe to admit air, or if ad-
mitted it must be for few minutes only at
a time, but if upon the examination of the



it be ascertaiDed to have risen above thirty
five degrees, give them little air by open
ing the wipdow-one, two or three inches,
according to the state of the weather. Man.
kind are apt, in the alb ence of perceptibe
danger, to be lulled into fsncied state of
security. When uninterrupted good health
has long been enjoyed, we are likely to
imagine there is no danger of falling by the
relentless hand of death. When the sky is
clear, and the air serene, and the sun shining
in the clear arch of Heaven with undisturbed
and uninterrupted brilliancy, we do not fear
the approach of the wild and devastating
fury OF the storm. When friends are crowd
ing around about us, cheering us with their
hattery, and prompting US to action and to
the discharge of our various duties, social
and religious, by their repeated demonstrs-
tions of approval, we are apt to imagine
that the poisoned shafts of cslumny, and the
arrows Of malignant distraction, have lost
their poigpancy, and that we need fear no
enemies. Yet, amid all these fanced
anticipations of security, we do not know
but that the next moment may find US the
p.ey ofsome one of these disasters.


And as change and mutation are the con-
comitant lot of almost all terrestrial things,
and as it is interviewer into our very nature
to realize constant, unceasing and eternal
change, we ought not to be surprised at the
recent marked and great change in the tenn
perature of the weather. Floral amateurs,
no doubt, had been, by the recent mild, beau
tiiul and spring like weather, lulled into q
dangerous state of fancied security in rela-
ton TO the beautiful and interesting, as well
as attractive, family of flowers, over which
they hold supervisory care. And, not
wiIhstanding the recent beautiful and mild
weather had continued for so long time,
| would recommend that care and atten-
tion usually conferred upon plants at this
season of the year should not be released or
abated in consequence of it, but that the ac-
customed preparation for conducting plants
safely through the rough and severe weather
of winter be still closely attended to and
carefully regarded.


Where you desire to have your Roses bloom
through the winter, you should keep them
in warm room, and, if it is practicable to
do so, they should be placed in a room hav
ing window fronting the south, as the ad-
mission of the light and heat of the sun in a
location of that kind contributes much to
their growth and beauty. A small portion
of air should be admitted each day, espe-
cally when the sun is pleasant. This should
be done about midday. They require a lib,
eral and plentiful supply of pure water. II
the above. prescribed treatment be given
them, they will be certain to reward the cul-
tivator with an early and luXuriant supply
of interesting and fragrant flowers. The
Camellia Japonica, with its varied variety, is
| decidedly faVorite family for room culture
Those that open their flowers freely are the
best adapted for the parlor; select from re-
liable sources.


A well selected variety of these plants, il
we'll managed, will bloom freely and richly
and afford much interest and beauty for the
| eoioyment of the cultivator, compensating
| libe rally for the care, and toll, and anxiety
incident to their management and culture
During their Towering season, as we'll a!
when they are crowned with buds, they
should be abundantly and plentifully watered
| and by no means permitted to become en-
tirely dry. If from neglect or inadvertenc,
they are allowed to get quite dry, the bud
would dry up, decay, and consequently fal
off. They also require circulation of air
which may be given them by either leaving
the door Of the room little open, or other
wise hoist the windows of the room in whicl
they are kept, for the admission of pure all
which should be done on pleasant and mill
days only. The leaves of the Camellia re
quire to be washed occasionally with water
for the purpose of keeping the foliage clean
and at the same time rendering them NOR
pleasing to the eye. This process of irIi sat
ing plants has a salutary effect in promotin
their health, and should not be neglected.
| AVOlQ OVerueaunB Jue rOOm III HulC
your Camellias are kept, and especially avoi
an excess of heat generated by coal fire, 9
heat thus produced will exert most dele
terious effect upon them if permitted to com
in contact with them. All plants kept
rooms should be kept clean, which can
done by means of water and a soft spong
This process of cleansing should be done fr,
quently and with much care. The watC
should be of the same temperature as that {
the room inwhich the plants are kept Ifplan
are left considerable length Of time will
out turning them around, they grow crOoke,
leaning and inclining to the direction fro
which the light approaches them; it, Their
fore, becomes necessary that they be turne
frequently, in order to maintain an erect pu
sition and preserve a straight and sight
appearance of the principal stem ofthe plan
Bulbs that are kept in glsses will requil
the water in which they are immersed to
changed frequently at least once week.
permitted to remain long without beir
changed, it becomes fetid and impure, ar
unfit for the bulbs. Pure and fresh water


necessary to afford them that nutriment thC
require, and to keep them healthy and vigo
Gus. THOMAS SHEREN.