Year: 1865

Some unsupported House-Plants.


/ do not mean that stand Of green and -four
ishing geraniums and roses, which hasjust been
stationed in your south window, the pet Of your
anxious thoughts, which you hope to be able to
keep through the winter, though if you do it
will be the first time.


ask you to look at few very humble, un-
noticed plants, which are found in and about
every house the world over. Do you know
that plants grow and spread by thousands all
over the sides of your house and stone steps,
and from garret to cellar, continually multi
piled and died out again?


Well, there is a sly, insinuating family that
goes creeping in all by-places, and lives where
you never dreamed flowers would live.


One of these plants is fond of old warm gar
rets, and dark, damp closets and corners. 1t
tlkcs root in old books and papers, and clothes
that have been long laid away Here it
spreads in green, brown, and dirty patches,
which your mother calls mildep. And that is
the right name, though doubt if she told you
it was blossoming vegetable as truly as your
hyacinths.


Another of this family, so widespread, is al
ways at home in the pantries and buttcry, is in
the cellar, or even in your desk in school In
stead of growing in the ground as a plant should,
it takes root in bread and cake, and is particu-
larly fond of cheese In single night ten
thousand little plants viii grow and spread like
soft. blue cloud throughout loaf, and in the
morning the cook declares ''the bread moldy."
The little plant is mold. But how did it get
into my desk, and grow on that piece Of apple
Does it spring out of the loaf and the apple |?
No; the air is full of invisible seeds, floating
everywhere; but they will only sprout in con-
fined, damp, or warm places. On the right
soil, thousands will come into life and decay in
few minutes. Yes, that tiny mold is vege-
table. with root, stem, and blossom.


On the south side of the street, in the city and
on the north side of every building, bricks and
stones turn green. Most likely you thought it
was only turning green and never asked the
reason. The microscope shows 1t to be mi
mute plant, whose name is lichen and it has
near relative in the woods, growing on stumps
and the old bark, on stones and fence-rails.-
This last is larger and prettier to the naked
eye.


In the field, these small vegetables are the
dread of farmers. For if the weather is wet,
rot, mildew, smut, rust, and blight, all species
of Fungus, THAT is the family name) run riot
over the fields, and planting themselves upon
the grain, destroy its life. Have you never
picked an ear of corn that was all swollen and
spotted blue and black That was blight
Farmers call it a disease; but it is vegetable.
1t is certain, however, if the sun Shines and the
grain is strong and healthy, that these plants
will not grow uponit.


One name is given &c all these-the Ftmg'.
Some of them grow in ink, in milk, and vine
car. and. more curious still, some on living ami
mails.


In Italy, the silk-worm is destroyed by thou
sands by fungus growing all over its body
Every child has picked off the windows, in some
old close garrett flies that lay dead. glued to the
glass. and covered with thin blue film. The
Ay became sick in the confined air, and then the
seeds of the fungus sprouted upon it, and killed
it. Even men are sometimes attacked by these
plants.


grant you this is not very pleasant fam
ily, creeping into life in the damp and dark,
fixing on the sickly or decaying substance and
mantling it with death, and often iourishing
in poisoned SOIL Nor do expect you will give
a place to mold and mildew among your plants
in the window, but let us understand them
Let us allow them right in the great vegetable
kingdom, and acknowledge their kindred to our
roses.