Leaf-mold or peat, which is decayed vegetable matter, black and rich
in plant-food, is one of the best ingredients for potting soils ; that is,
for certain classes of plants, as the azaleas, camellias, ferns, orchids and
most store plants. Some species do not desire a light soil, but thrive
much .better in a compact, firm compost. The common practice of
going into the garden for soil intended for porting is the cause of a
large proportion of the failures among private collection of plants.
Six plants bes*. suited to house culture are the calla, rose, geranium,
heliotrope, fuchsia and ivy. Begonias are thrifty, and so, also, are the
scented geraniums and different varieties of cactus. For hanging bas-
kets is the smilax, moneywort, saxifrage, Madeira vine, Wandering Jew,
and trailing myrtle. If you want some small growing plants for
brackets, use oxalis, Chinese primrose, musk plant and pocket flower ;
geraniums and heliotropes require a great deal of water and sun.
Among the winter blooming plants the ageratum gives pretty blue
flowers, most excellent for bouquets, several varieties of flowering
begonias, especially maltiflora with beautiful scarlet flowers ; geraniums
of many kinds, both of the blooming and the scented-leaved varieties
and the marvelous hued coleus, some of them perfect wonders in
marking.
In selecting plants for winter do not forget to choose a few with
fancy foliage ; of these the geraniums take the lead — Happy Thought
(leaf white, green margin), Mrs. Pollock, Distinction, and Cloth of Gold
are our favorites ; in silver, Mountain of Snow and Italia Unita — these
with a rex begonia and achyrantes, will make the window a thing of
beauty, even if you have no blossoms.
In the sunniest window place geraniums, roses, abutilons, lantanas,
callas, etc. Fuchsias, begonias, ivies, farfugium and Chinese primroses
will thrive equally well in an eastern or northwestern window.
The especial ornamental plants to raise in order to have fragrant
odors, for bouquets, stands and flower vases are these sweet-scented
flowers : Sweet violet, hyacinth, heliotrope, rose and sweet-scented gera-
nium, pinks, sweet-scented candytuft, woodbine, sweet briar, cabbage
rose, tea rose, white lily, sweet alyssum, mignonette, sweet pea, carna-
tions, sweet-william and several sweet-scented roses ; also, the tuberose
is exceedingly fragrant. Any one of these in a bouquet will fill the
room with sweet perfume.
India rubber plants require plenty of water, and the leaves regularly
ORNAMENTAL WINDOW BOXES. 101
sponged in extreme dry weather. They should be stood in a basin of
water.
The oleander is one of the most popular of all the house plants. It
is easily rooted in water and requires no special cultivation. Its worst
enemy is the scale insect, which makes its abode on the underside of
the leaves, and the only sensible way of removing the pest is hand-
picking, with the thumb and finger. Washing with whale oil soap-suds
is good, but not near so certain of results as the hand-picking.
Page 89
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Leaf-mold or peat, which is decayed vegetable matter, black and rich in plant-food, is one of the best ingredients for potting soils ; that is, for certain classes of plants, as the azaleas, camellias, ferns, orchids and most store plants. Some species do not desire a light soil, but thrive much .better in a compact, firm compost. The common practice of going into the garden for soil intended for porting is the cause of a large proportion of the failures among private collection of plants.
Six plants best suited to house culture are the calla, rose, geranium, heliotrope, fuchsia and ivy. Begonias are thrifty, and so, also, are the scented geraniums and different varieties of cactus. For hanging baskets is the smilax, moneywort, saxifrage, Madeira vine, Wandering Jew, and trailing myrtle. If you want some small growing plants for brackets, use oxalis, Chinese primrose, musk plant and pocket flower ; geraniums and heliotropes require a great deal of water and sun.
Among the winter blooming plants the ageratum gives pretty blue flowers, most excellent for bouquets, several varieties of flowering begonias, especially maltiflora with beautiful scarlet flowers ; geraniums of many kinds, both of the blooming and the scented-leaved varieties and the marvelous hued coleus, some of them perfect wonders in marking.
In selecting plants for winter do not forget to choose a few with fancy foliage ; of these the geraniums take the lead — Happy Thought (leaf white, green margin), Mrs. Pollock, Distinction, and Cloth of Gold are our favorites ; in silver, Mountain of Snow and Italia Unita — these with a rex begonia and achyrantes, will make the window a thing of beauty, even if you have no blossoms.
In the sunniest window place geraniums, roses, abutilons, lantanas, callas, etc. Fuchsias, begonias, ivies, farfugium and Chinese primroses will thrive equally well in an eastern or northwestern window.
The especial ornamental plants to raise in order to have fragrant odors, for bouquets, stands and flower vases are these sweet-scented flowers : Sweet violet, hyacinth, heliotrope, rose and sweet-scented geranium, pinks, sweet-scented candytuft, woodbine, sweet briar, cabbage rose, tea rose, white lily, sweet alyssum, mignonette, sweet pea, carnations, sweet-william and several sweet-scented roses ; also, the tuberose is exceedingly fragrant. Any one of these in a bouquet will fill the room with sweet perfume.
India rubber plants require plenty of water, and the leaves regularly
ORNAMENTAL WINDOW BOXES. 101
sponged in extreme dry weather. They should be stood in a basin of water.
The oleander is one of the most popular of all the house plants. It is easily rooted in water and requires no special cultivation. Its worst enemy is the scale insect, which makes its abode on the underside of the leaves, and the only sensible way of removing the pest is handpicking, with the thumb and finger. Washing with whale oil soap-suds is good, but not near so certain of results as the hand-picking.