MISCELLANEOUS. WINDOW GARDENS IN WINTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS. WINDOW GARDENS IN WINTER.

Winter is a critical time in the life of plants in the sitting-room windows. They have not, as a general thing, recovered fully from the effects of repotting or removal to the house from the garden, or wherever they were kept daring the summer, where they had all the fresh air they could make use of. In the house there will be laok of good air, and the temperature of most rooms will be unhealthily warm. Another drawback is the lack of sunshine that characterises this season ef the year. Plants that are growing must have sunshine in order to make their growth healthy. Gire but little water, just enough to keep them from withering. A liberal supply of water, combined with the effects of warm rooms and impure air, encourages that rapid but unsubstantial growth which is weakening to the plant. On no account give manure. Some persons seem to think the application of a fertiliser is all that is necessary to remedy all the evils plants are heir to. Such is not the case. No plant, not in a healthy condition and making active growth, should be given fertilisers, as it is not in a. condition to properly assimilate and make use of strong food. Provide the room in which your plants are kept with a thermometer, and see that the temperature does not rise above 72 deg ; 70 deg would be better, and perhaps 65 deg would be better still. Rather open another window, at some distance, or a door, and let the room fill with fresh air which will mix with the warm air of the room before it reaches the plants.

WHERE IS THE GRANDEST CONSERVATOR* ?

This is one built at Schenley Park, Pittsburg, U.S., by Mr Henry Phipps, a partner of Mr Andrew Carnegie, and presented by him to the city of Pittsburg. The original cost of the building, which is entirely of iron and glass, was £20,000, and the cost of its horticultural treasures has been enormous.

Recent additions to the Phipps conservatory included over 6000 plants from the World's Fair, Bix cars being required to transport them. The shipment included the famous collection of cacti exhibited by Mrs Nicholls, of Texas ; the ravanella, or travellers' tree of India, 25ft high; and the Australian tree-ferns of New South Wales.

The begonia exhibit is larger than any other collection of these plants in the world. Amongst other treasures are cinerarias, cyclamen, calceolarias, and primroses raised from seed of those that secured the prizes at Chicago, and some of tee finest specimens of palms from the exhibits of Mr A. J. Drexel and the late Mr George W. Childs.

The original cost of the Australian tree-ferns is placed at £2000, and their transportation across the seas cost as much more.

PBEPABATIONS FOB SPRING.

Now is the time to see about getting a supply of seed and propagating boxes, as well as pots, &c, in readiness for work to be done presently. To those who have not much properly constructed glass, a number of moderate-sized boxes, say 20in by 12in by Bin deep, with a square or two of glass to lay over each, will be found of the greatest use by-and-bye for sowing seeds, striking cuttings, &c. Half-hardy things of many kinds may be raised much more safely and successfully, as well as two or three weeks earlier, by the use of these simple affairs. Keep the glass rather closely on" at first, and cover with mats or sacking on cold nights ; afterwards gradually inure the seedlings to a full allowance of air and light. MUSTABD MEAL FOR WORMS IN FLOWER POTS.

A new method of clearing the soil in flower pots of worms is now finding favour among florists. The recipe is as follows: — Put -£lb commercial ground mustard into a large-sized watering can, fill up with water, and let it stand in soak for one hour. Then add some hot water, stirring thoroughly, and apply the water to the pots. The worms soon come to the surface, and iio harm results to the plants. — Horticultural Review.

THE SWEET-SCENTED TOBACCO PLANT.

This is an interesting plant in more points than ore. In the first place, the flowers close up in the daytime until two or three days old, and then remain open until they fade. It has also the singular property of emitting its fragrance only at night. It is, moreover, an excellent plant for house decoration, as it does not require as much light as some other plants, and it will last in good condition for six weeks.

SOU, FOB WINDOW PLANTS.

Beginners in window culture who cannot get good soil of the character required for the different plants grown would be well advised to purchase a compost, or the various ingredients required to form composts, rather than use poor garden soil ; most florists would be able to supply everything that is wanted. Leaf-mould, turf-mould, and silver sand will form an excellent compost for most plants, except those which require peat — such as heaths, azaleas, and other hard-wooded plants. LILIES.

It is now time that bulbs of the golden-rayed and other lilies should be procured and potted. Properly speaking, the sooner repotting takes place after flowering the better for all kinds of lilies, and, in the case of home-grown bulbs, this should always be done. For pots the soil should not be made too rich, a mixture of good loam, peat, and perhaps a fourth of leaf-soil, and some sand, being preferable to a lot of manure, as nourishment can always be supplied when required by feeding. Drain well, and leave the soil below the bulb rather rough and loose; that above may be made firmer. A common plan, and a very good one it is, in dealing with good-sized bulbs, or when three or more are placed in a large pot, is only to fill the pots half or two-thirds full of soil at the time of planting, and when growth has commenced and the stem has started to push out roots (as it always does above the bulb) to add fresh soil, which should be of a lo&my nature, until the pot is nearly full.