GARDENING INDOORS AND UNDER GLASS
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO THE PLANTING, CARE AND PROPAGATION OF HOUSE PLANTS, AND TO THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF HOTBED, COLDFRAME AND SMALL GREENHOUSE
BY F. F. ROCKWELL Author of _Home Vegetable Gardening_
NEW YORK McBRIDE, NAST & COMPANY 1912
Copyright, 1911, 1912, by McBride, Nast & Co.
Published September, 1912
* * * * *
[Illustration: Too few people realize the possibilities for enjoyment in prolonging the garden through the winter months indoors]
FOREWORD
There is nothing which adds so much sunshine and cheer to the rooms of a house besieged by winter and all his dreary encampment of snow and ice, as the greenery, color and fragrance of blossoming plants. There is no pastime quite so full of pleasure and constant interest as this sort of horticulture; the rooting of small slips, the repotting and watering and watching, as new growth develops, and buds unfold. Some have the magic gift, that everything they touch will break into blossom; others strive--perhaps too hard--only to gain indifferent results. It is hoped that this book will aid those of the second class to locate past mistakes and progress to future success; and further that it may indicate to those more fortunate ones of the first class the way to more extensive achievements in the work they love.
This is not a technical book; simply an attempt to tell in so plain a way that they cannot be misunderstood the everyday details of the successful management of plants in the house and within such small glass structures as may be made, even with limited means and time, a part of the average home.
There is another aspect of the case worth considering; so much so in fact, that it is one of the reasons for writing this book. By the use of such modest glass structures as almost everyone can afford not only is the scope of winter gardening enlarged and the work rendered more easy and certain, but the opportunity is given to make this light labor pay for itself. Fresh vegetables out of season are always acceptable and well grown plants find a ready sale among one's flower-loving friends.
CRANMERE, August 1st, 1912. F. F. R.
CONTENTS
PART I--PLANTS IN THE HOUSE
CHAPTER PAGE
I INTRODUCTION 1
II THE PROPER CONDITIONS: LIGHT, TEMPERATURE AND MOISTURE 6
III SOILS, MANURES AND FERTILIZERS 14
IV STARTING PLANTS FROM SEED 22
V STARTING PLANTS FROM CUTTINGS 29
VI TRANSPLANTING, POTTING AND REPOTTING 35
VII MANAGEMENT OF HOUSE PLANTS 44
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: Gardening Indoors and Under Glass by Rockwell
- 2: Gardening Indoors and Under Glass by Rockwell
- 3: Gardening Indoors and Under Glass by Rockwell
- 4: It was necessary to heat the small greenhouse
- 5: But also such vegetables as lettuce
- 6: By means of the common iron brackets
- 7: When the temperature outside is below freezing
- 8: Or sod and manure can be rotted together
- 9: Manure rotted as described above
- 10: Cottonseed meal may be safely mixed with the soil
- 11: Screened out of the sods and leaf mould
- 12: Until germination actually takes place
- 13: According to the plant and variety to be propagated
- 14: It will require a thorough soaking every morning
- 15: Water the seed flats the day previous to transplanting
- 16: Fill the pot level full of soil
- 17: Geranium and dusty miller Illustration Some plants
- 18: The depth of the drainage material
- 19: Just after repotting and in fighting plant lice
- 20: But cow manure is the safest and best
- 21: The decorative leaved begonias and the tuberous rooted
- 22: Some of the foliage begonias have long
- 23: Geraniums The geranium has been for years
- 24: Salleroi Silver leaf geranium
- 25: Pelargoniums are propagated by cuttings
- 26: Primroses need no particular care
- 27: Paris or Marguerite Beautiful daisy like flowers
- 28: Verbena If any of these old brilliant favorites are wanted
- 29: Abutilon The Flowering Maple Abutilon is an old favorite
- 30: By all means give the ardisia a place in your collection
- 31: The varieties of the hydrangea are several
- 32: White Maman Cochet and La France
- 33: Propagated by cuttings from leading shoots
- 34: Leopard Plant Farfugium grande
- 35: Ficus elastica is the common rubber plant
- 36: While usually listed as Maranta zebrina
- 37: The coboea is easily managed if kept properly trained
- 38: Do not let the flowers fade on the vines
- 39: The maidenhairs Adiantum or the spider ferns Pteris
- 40: Often called the hardy Farleyense
- 41: Hatcheri resembles plumosus nanus
- 42: Repotting once a year while palms are growing
- 43: Forsteriana is of stronger growth
- 44: Two distinct advantages which most of the cacti possess
- 45: The night blooming Phyllocactus
- 46: They may be considered in two classes the forcing bulbs
- 47: Cover freesias only two inches
- 48: Easter Lily Lillium Harrisii is universally popular
- 49: They should be repotted in rich soil every year
- 50: Hyacinths are easily grown in pure water
- 51: Vases usually have three serious drawbacks
- 52: Never let the bugs get a start
- 53: It is effective against aphis and mealy bug
- 54: Or kerosene emulsion and a stiff brush
- 55: Dissolve the soap in boiling water
- 56: FOR PLANTING AND TRANSPLANTING Transplanting fork
- 57: These are constructed especially to support the bulb
- 58: A small florist's brass syringe will prove a good investment
- 59: The hotbed is artificially heated by fermenting manure
- 60: In constructing the hotbed there are two methods used
- 61: The coldframe is constructed practically as in the hotbed
- 62: You can have a small house at a very small outlay
- 63: 00 3 ventilating sash for 3 24 in
- 64: And secure to them the one inch pipe purlin
- 65: And purlin braces from the ridge posts
- 66: There are three systems of heating flues hot air
- 67: From as near the heater as practical
- 68: That the temperature of water used
- 69: They have to be potted and repotted
- 70: With frequent syringing of the foliage
- 71: Simply with the aid of a coldframe
- 72: Asparagus ferns will also respond to about the same care
- 73: While they are in bloom at the florists
- 74: Lettuce is a low temperature plant
- 75: Filled about half full of a light sandy compost
- 76: Coleus and other tender plants follow pansies
- 77: Starting and transplanting seed
- 78: Salvias and coleus are the tenderest of these plants
- 79: Bedding plants grown for spring
- 80: Gardening Indoors and Under Glass by Rockwell
- 81: Gardening Indoors and Under Glass by Rockwell
- 82: Gardening Indoors and Under Glass by Rockwell
