It is to be remembered that the winter is naturally the season of
_rest_ for plants. All plants require to lie dormant during some
portion of the year. You cannot cheat them out of it. If they are
pushed the whole year they become exhausted and worthless. Here lies
the most common error of plant-keepers. If you mean to have roses,
blooming geraniums, etc., in winter, you must, _artificially, change
their season of rest_. Plants which flower in summer must rest in
winter; those which are to flower in winter must rest either in summer
or autumn. It is not, usually, worth while to take into the house for
flowering purposes any shrub which has been in full bloom during the
summer or autumn. Select and pot the wished-for flowers during summer;
place them in a shaded position facing the north, give very little
water, and then keep them quiet. Their energies will thus be saved for
winter. When taken into the house, the four essential points of
attention are light, moisture, temperature, and cleanliness.
1. LIGHT.—The functions of the leaves cannot be healthfully carried on
without light. If there be too little, the sap is imperfectly
elaborated, and returns from the leaves to the body in a crude,
undigested state. The growth will be coarse, watery, and brittle; and
that ripeness which must precede flowers and fruit cannot be attained.
The sprawling, spindling, white-colored, long-jointed, plants, of
which some persons are unwisely proud, are, often the result of too
little light and too much water. The pots should be turned around
every day, unless when the light strikes down from above, or from
windows on each side; otherwise, they will grow out of shape by
bending toward the light.
2. MOISTURE.—Different species of plants require different quantities
of water. What are termed _aquatics_, of which the _Calla Æthiopica_,
is a specimen, require great abundance of it. Yet it should be often
_changed_ even in the case of aquatics. But roses, geraniums, etc.,
and the common house plants require the soil to be _moist_, rather
than _wet_. As a general rule it may be said that every pot should
have one-sixth part of its depth filled with coarse pebbles, as a
drainage, before the plants are potted. This gives all superfluous
moisture a free passage out. Plants should be watered by _examination_
and not by _time_. They require various quantities of moisture,
according to their activity, and the period of their growth. Let the
earth be well stirred, and if it is becoming dry on the inside, give
water. Never water by _dribblets_—a spoonful to-day, another
to-morrow. In this way the outside will become bound, and the inside
remain dry. Give a copious watering, so that the whole ball shall be
soaked; then let it drain off, and that which comes into the saucer be
poured off. But, in whatever way one prefers to give water, the thing
to be gained is a full supply of moisture to every part of the roots,
and yet not so much as to have it _stand_ about them. Manure-water may
be employed with great benefit every second or third watering. For
this purpose we have never found anything of value equal to _guano_.
Besides water to the root, plants are almost as much benefited by
water on the leaf—but of this we shall speak under the head of
_cleanliness_.
3. TEMPERATURE.—Sudden and violent _changes_ of temperature are almost
as trying to plants as to animals and men. At the same time, a
moderate change of temperature is very desirable. Thus, in nature,
there is a marked and uniform variation at night from the temperature
of the day. At night, the room should be gradually lowered in
temperature to from forty-five degrees to fifty degrees, while through
the day it ranges from fifty-five degrees to seventy degrees. Too
much, and too sudden heat will destroy tender leaves almost as surely
as frost. It should also be remembered that the leaves of plants are
constantly exhaling moisture during the day. If in too warm an
atmosphere, or in one which is too dry, this perspiration becomes
excessive and weakens the plant. If the room be stove-heated, a basin
of water should be put on the stove to supply moisture to the air by
evaporation. Sprinkling the leaves, a kind of artificial dew, is also
beneficial, on this account. The air should be changed as often as
possible. Every warm and sunny day should be improved to let in fresh
air upon these vegetable breathers.
4. CLEANLINESS.—This is important element of health as well as of
beauty. _Animal-uncleanliness_ is first to be removed. If ground-worms
have been incorporated with the dirt, give a dose or two of lime-water
to the soil. Next aphides or green-lice will appear upon the leaves
and stems. Tobacco smoke will soon stupefy them and cause them to
tumble upon the shelves or surface of the soil, whence they are to be
carefully brushed, or crushed. If one has but a few plants, put them
in a group on the floor; put four chairs around them, and cover with
an old blanket, forming a sort of tent. Set a dish of coals within,
and throw on a handful of tobacco leaves. Fifteen minutes’ smoking
will destroy any decent aphis.
If a larger collection is on hand, let the dish or dishes be placed
under the stands. When the destruction is completed, let the parlor be
well ventilated, unless, fair lady, you have an inveterate smoker for
a husband; in which case you may have become used to the nuisance.
The insects which infest large collections of green-houses, are fully
treated of in horticultural books of directions.
_Dust_ will settle every day upon the leaves, and choke up the
perspiring pores. The leaves should be kept free by gentle wiping, or
by washing.
* * * * *
White Clover is an important grass on flourishing old meadows. It
grows very thick at the bottom of the other grass, although in a good
season it will grow to the height of from twelve to sixteen inches. I
have seen it in low spots completely covered for weeks together.
Therefore land which produces abundant crops of grass, would require
extensive draining for grain, and seeing that plowing such land
destroys its life, it is far better to keep it in grass continually.