FLORA'S HAN D-BOOK / ^>^ rr ^^^^ ^, ^ OCT 25 1H86Hr -V^ v^^:^ ^ N A GUIDE TO FLOWER CULTURE AND Window Gajrdening. New Bedford, Mass. ^^^. ^ Windew ©apdei^ii^f. The professional florist who possesses extensive green- houses filled with rare plants from all parts of the world, is no doubt often inclined to make light of the efforts of per- sons less favored, who cultivate a few cheap and common window plants; and still, the latter may derive more pleasure from their few pets of this kind than the former from his thousands of costly exotics ; for it is neither quantity nor quality that brings the greatest happiness, or the keenest en- joyment. A rare orchid costing a thousand dollars may not yield its owner a moiety of the enjoyment that some poor girl gets from the first flower that appears on her pot-grown pink or geranium, the result of her skill and loving care. As the little grains of sand make the beach of the ocean, so these little window plants, scattered here and there, be- come the silent but potent educators of the masses, keeping alive, as well as promoting a love for the beautiful members of Flora's kingdom. It is certainly true, that in our cold climate, a greenhouse with all the modern improvements for heating and ventilating, is a more convenient structure in which to cultivate tender plants than an ordinary dwelling ; but the former can only be obtained by the few, while the latter may be said to be in the possession of all, at least with with all who possess a place worthy of the name of home. In cultivating plants in pots, boxes or other similar ves- sels, we confine their roots to a very circumscribed area, pre- venting them from wandering to any considerable distance in search of nutriment ; consequently we must place the elements which they require near by, or within easy reach. The roots of plants may be confined within a very limited area, provided nutriments and moisture are supplied them in liberal quantities. The soil used for house plants in general, should be rich and of a rather loose and pliable nature, or at least light and porous enough to permit the water applied to the surface from time to time to pass down slowly, but surely to the very bottom. Sods gathered from an old pasture and placed in a heap until they are thoroughly decomposed, make an excellent potting-soil, but leaf-mold from the woods with a little old manure and a trifle of sand added, also makes an ex- cellent material for this purpose ; but good potting soil can be gathered almost anywhere, and if not of the right texture, materials may be added to make it so. For a large propor- tion of window plants the texture of the soil should be such that when firmly pressed betweed the two hands it will hold together when laid down. If it crumbles and falls apart by its own weight it is too light, and a little sticky loam or clay should be added ; but if the lump is firm and somewhat like putty in grain, it will dry too hard, and more vegetable mold should be added. Of course, these tests should be made with the moist, not wet, or very dry soil, but when in a proper coadition for haadliug readily. Soil when gathered from deep shade in the woods or city yards should be placed in heaps exposed to the sun and rain for a few weeks, or even months, before using it for pot plants of any kind, for earth long excluded from sunlight needs to pass through a kind of sweetening process before being used for window plants. The heap of potting soil can be frequently worked, and its texture, if not just right, be improved by adding whatever materials are required, even to mixing with it some kind of concentr a- ted fertil- izer. Flor- ists make a practice of prepar i n g their pot- ting soil several .,..,., ,„^ months in "^■*'"' advance of the time it is needed for use, and those who cul- tivate a few or many window plants should keep a little heap in some out-of-the-way corner of the yard where it can be drawn upon when required. Icentrated. THE C L A R K'S COVE GENERAL PLANT FERTILIZER, GIVES Increased Strength and Vitality. Rapid Growth. Luxuriant Foliage. Perfection of Form and Color. Great Brilliancy. Exquisite Fragrance. DEVELOPS Great Vigor and Beauteous Foliage IN ALL CLIMBERS and CREEPERS. ENSURES VITALITY THROUGH SEVERE SEASONS. Free from Insect - Breeding Germs. PUT UP IN ONE POUND CANISTERS. tt^DIRECTIONS FOR USE ON CANISTER. The CLARK'S COVE GUANO CO. rr\^ POSITION OF WORKS. ^HE POSITION of the Works is one of the best on I the Atlantic seaboard. Its location on Buzzard's X Bay permits ingress and egress at any season, how- ever cold. Vessels can weigh anchor and get to sea within an hour. With deep water, and a channel navigable at any time, foreign vessels land full cargoes at rates corresponding with those current for the port of New York. Raw materi- als can be delivered from any point with great despatch, and at lower cost than some of the fertilizer works adjacent to New York can command, the bay being free from onorous port and pilotage charges. The conveniences for the rapid handling of cargoes are unsurpassed. The cost of the "plant" could not from many advantages be duplicated elsewhere. Labor is plenty at moderate figures. The Cor- poration's vessels convey the manufactured product. Steam transfer, in this respect, has been found to cost less than harbor lighterage from factories about New York, which in many cases cannot deliver their product to railroad and other transportation routes without a heavy tax for transfer. Copyright 1886 by Clark's Cove Guano Co. c LlBRftR^ OJ;,, CONGRESS ..iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillllllllillllilllll f 5 910 5®^ * -■illilHiillilitt,,, lliliillil;,, iliilKliiilk fflsniiiii;!, lBlill^''lli|lill i!yMi"ffliiiiii liiiiiflti rjraiii 1