| OCR Text |
Show LIVE STOCK IS A VALUABLE PART OF THE FOOD SUPPLY. Photo by Mary J. Dougherty. 'tSM 1 jotting plants M AS soon ns possiblo after tho first I H of Mny all the house plants should H be tnken to the garden and asscm- H bled in a shady place where one can work in comfort and whero thG roots when ex- posed will not be injured by the sun. Here H also a potting bench should be provided, H say a few boards or a door or shutter laid H on tho top of two barrels, nnd a supply of H soil prcpnrcd. This latter should con- H .sist of lonm thnt has formed six or eight H inches of the top layer of land on which IH the grass has been growing, preferably H laiid on which cattle have been pnsturcd. H "The thinnest possible skimming of sod H should bo taken off nnd thrown away to H get rid of the actual graen, but tho fi- IH brous layer immediately bplow, which is IB rich in humus and beneficent bacteria H and has long life and fertility, must bo religiously fcaved. Brown or yellowish H upland soil is better thnn the black stuff H found in low, moist situations." These are tho directions of Mr. F. E. Palmer in H thy chnpter on "House Plants Out ol jH Doors in Summer," in a little book, "Mi- H lady's House Plants," published by A. T. H Do la Mate Company. H "There is a popular fallacy," he says, jH "that this bog or black peat has wonder- jH ful growing properties. Unfortunately this fallacy has extended even to pro- H fessional gardeners, with the result of IH ninny a failure and disappointment IH ' If the available lonm is light in color IH and inclined to be stony, add to it one IH third old loaf mould, thnt Is leaves of H trees that have become reduced by jenrs IH of decay almost to a powder. Have an IH extra supply of this on hand so that H some more may bo added ,for the ferns jH when their timo comes, to make the H mixture hnlf loam, half leaf mould. If M the loam is sticky liko clay somo fine M sand mny be added, say ten per cent, IH othcrwie sand is of little or no value, M especially coarse sand. A few cracked jH pots that mny be broken up for drainnge, M a little moss out of the woods, also for M drainage, two or three potting sticks, H from a pieco of shingle to a section of H a broom handle, will complete the equip- l "Chop up the loam nnd rub it through i M a coarso sieve, say three-quarter inch I M mesh, all the grass roots going through I H and only the stones being thrown away. M Sift the leaf mould to remove 6toncs and H sticks and mix the two together on tho H "Taking tho foliage plants as the first H group, take the largest plant out of its M pot and examine the roots nnd soil. If 1 tho plant is in a healthy condition tho H roots should occupy every bit of the bolo IH of tho earth and bo matted around tho IH bottom. This Is the best timo of year j H for putting it into a lnrger pot, because H spring and summer aro the times of H greatest energy in the plnnt world and H they can thus best stand the shock of re- M potting. M "A plant that has been in a fivo inch 1 pot will require n seen inch one. For ( 1 drainage put in the bottom of the pot , M a bit of broken flower pot with the con- jH cave side down. On top of this is placed jH a thin layer of charcoal and on this a -M thin layer of moss. Having 'crocked' tho jH plant, as the gardeners say, it Is ready 'H for tho plant. jJ "Lay the plnnt down on the bench and 'H hold firmly with one hand, with the other H tnko a fork and tear away the coils of H roots that have formed around the drain- H ngc. If the plant sits too deeply in the H new pot fill in a littlo soil, then put it H in nnd filf around tho bole with somo H of tho new soil. After giving tho wbolo H a vigorous shako to settle the plant and 1 soil in position, firm down the latter J H with a potting stick. After ramming t H this layer firmly, fill in more firming j H again until tho 'desired level is reached." H This is ono of many valuable things H in this book for tho woman who likes to H grow flowers and in these days of vego- M table popularity still clings to a few jM posies. Sho will especially want some M house plants for next winter, when 6he H can't grow vegetables, and she will bo M interested in how to make them bloom H and in tho chapter on sun parlors as H plant rooms. H |
