People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1897 — Window Gardening. [ARTICLE]

Window Gardening.

Too often the class of plants selected for window gardening are not adapted to the conditions of temperature and light to which they are subjected. Generally only two classes of plants are grown; those requiring a temperature of from 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night, with a rise of 10 to 15 degrees during the day, and those which require a temperature of about 15 degrees less. In the first class are included geraniums (with the exception of pelargoniums often callod Martha Washington geraniums,) roses, fuchsias, ferns, pains, begonias, ate., and in the

latter, carnations, hyacintlis, cyclamens, cinerarias, geranium (pelargonium) azaleas, primroses, etc. Plants grown in a dry heated atmosphere do not thrive as well as those grown in a moist one, and are more subject to the attacks of red spider and' aphis (lice.) The air may be rendered moister by keeping an open vessel of water in the room. Red spider may be kept in check by frequently spraying the plants with water, while the aphis can usually be deterred from attacking the plants by dusting them occasionally with tobacco dust. If they should prove, troublesome, they may be killed by spraying the plants with a liquid tobacco solution. A tobacco extract is also sold under the name of “Rose Leaf Extract,” which is a valuable insecticide. Different classes of plants require soils of different textures and richness, hence it is difficult to give a mixture suitable for all. A potting soil meeting the needs of most window plants is found in a mixture of two parts loam and one part each of leave-mold, manure and sand. It is often necessary during the winter tritonths to supply some liquid stimulants to the plants, in order, in the case of flowering plants, to increase the number aud size of the flowers, and in that of foliage plants to give a darker and more luxuriant growth. These artificial stimulants may be applied in the form of manufactured plant foods, or what is infinitely more satisfactory, if not quite as pleasant, in form of liquid manure made from a mixture of cow and sheep manures, in the proportion of about four to one, with a small amount of ashes to furnish an excess of potash. These ingredients should be steeped in a barrel or tub of water for several days before using. Care should be exercised in the use of artificial stimulants of any kind as they will injure the plants if applied 100 strong, or in too liberal amounts. Liquid manure made according to the method described, should be diluted until it resembles the color of weak tea. Plants should not at first be watered oftener than once a fortnight with it, gradually increasing in frequency until once or twice a week is reached.— William Stuart, Assistant Botanist, Purdue University.