Begonias are a little peculiar in their habits ; they will not bear water
on their leaves, although they want abundance on the roots, neither do
they like removal from one place to another ; let them have a perma-
nent position, say in the middle of the window garden. Moist, damp
atmosphere suits them best, and the leaves must be carefully guarded
from dust.
CARNATIONS.
Carnations are among the most beautiful and valuable of plants, being
alike desirable for bedding out in summer, and the decoration of the
window garden during winter. They are of the easiest culture and
beautifully formed, and variously colored flowers are produced in the
greatest profusion. They should be planted as early as possible in the
spring, being nearly hardy, and capable of enduring quite a severe frost
without injury. Set out in beds at a distance of about one foot between
each plant. Early in summer they will commence blooming, and con-
tinue until they are checked by cold weather. If intended for winter
blooming, remove all buds as fast as they appear until September, leav-
ing those formed after that on the plants. In October the plants should
be lifted, taking care to preserve some of the soil about the roots, and
potted into pots of suitable size — six-inch pots will generally answer.
They should be placed in a shady place for a few days, and will then be
ready for removal to the window where they are to bloom.
The carnation is very impatient of a wet soil, and care should be taken
not to water them too much, but the foliage should receive a thorough
bath as often as once a week for the prevention of red spiders.
To grow carnations from seed, sow early in boxes and transplant to
the flower-bed, and when they flower some of the finest may be treated
for winter blooming as above described.
The propagation of the carnation by layers is a very simple operation.
When the plant is in full bloom, lay around it some good, well-rotted
manure, which mix with the soil well ; remove the lower leaves of the
shoots selected, pass the penknife slanting upwards half through the
joint ; fasten the shoot where so cut about two inches under the surface
with a small hooked peg, bending carefully so as not to break it at the
incision. Finish by pressing the earth around it with the fingers. Keep
110 FLO WERS.
the soil moderately moist, and in a month or six weeks the layers may
be severed from the parent plant and established for themselves.
FUCHSIAS.
The plant requires frequent shifting into larger pots when growing.
The pot must be shaded, for if set in a window where the rays of the
sun strike the side of the pot the leaves will drop and the buds blight,
because the little roots which cling to the inside of the pot, and are the
feeders to the plant get dried and burned up, from the absorption of
heat from the sun through glass. A very warm, dry atmosphere is not
favorable to their growth; the temperature should be from 55 to 68
degrees with plenty of light and air, but not so much sun as geraniums
and roses. They can be placed in the cellar in October ; do not water
them ; let them lose every leaf. Late in January take them out and cut
back severely. When they start to grow give them a good supply of
water, without keeping them soaking wet.
Page 97
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
Begonias are a little peculiar in their habits ; they will not bear water on their leaves, although they want abundance on the roots, neither do they like removal from one place to another ; let them have a permanent position, say in the middle of the window garden. Moist, damp atmosphere suits them best, and the leaves must be carefully guarded from dust.
CARNATIONS.
Carnations are among the most beautiful and valuable of plants, being alike desirable for bedding out in summer, and the decoration of the window garden during winter. They are of the easiest culture and beautifully formed, and variously colored flowers are produced in the greatest profusion. They should be planted as early as possible in the spring, being nearly hardy, and capable of enduring quite a severe frost without injury. Set out in beds at a distance of about one foot between each plant. Early in summer they will commence blooming, and continue until they are checked by cold weather. If intended for winter blooming, remove all buds as fast as they appear until September, leaving those formed after that on the plants. In October the plants should be lifted, taking care to preserve some of the soil about the roots, and potted into pots of suitable size — six-inch pots will generally answer. They should be placed in a shady place for a few days, and will then be ready for removal to the window where they are to bloom.
The carnation is very impatient of a wet soil, and care should be taken not to water them too much, but the foliage should receive a thorough bath as often as once a week for the prevention of red spiders.
To grow carnations from seed, sow early in boxes and transplant to the flower-bed, and when they flower some of the finest may be treated for winter blooming as above described.
The propagation of the carnation by layers is a very simple operation. When the plant is in full bloom, lay around it some good, well-rotted manure, which mix with the soil well ; remove the lower leaves of the shoots selected, pass the penknife slanting upwards half through the joint ; fasten the shoot where so cut about two inches under the surface with a small hooked peg, bending carefully so as not to break it at the incision. Finish by pressing the earth around it with the fingers. Keep
the soil moderately moist, and in a month or six weeks the layers may be severed from the parent plant and established for themselves.
FUCHSIAS.
The plant requires frequent shifting into larger pots when growing. The pot must be shaded, for if set in a window where the rays of the sun strike the side of the pot the leaves will drop and the buds blight, because the little roots which cling to the inside of the pot, and are the feeders to the plant get dried and burned up, from the absorption of heat from the sun through glass. A very warm, dry atmosphere is not favorable to their growth; the temperature should be from 55 to 68 degrees with plenty of light and air, but not so much sun as geraniums and roses. They can be placed in the cellar in October ; do not water them ; let them lose every leaf. Late in January take them out and cut back severely. When they start to grow give them a good supply of water, without keeping them soaking wet.