Mrs. Hale's Receipts for the Million: Containing Four Thousand Five Hundred and Forty-five Receipts, Facts, Directions, etc. in the Useful, Ornamental, and Domestic Arts
John Stuart Mill · en
732. _July._--Fuchsias, in a growing state, should receive a final
potting: place them in large, perfectly clean pots, using a mixture
of turfy loam and peat, or leaf mould; train the shoots, and water
liberally. Geraniums that have done flowering, should also be
re-potted; they require a lighter soil, such as one part turfy loam,
two parts leaf mould, and the remainder sand: cut down the tops to
within two or three joints of their base, and set the plants in a
warm sheltered place, to induce them to grow again: the cuttings may
be struck in a frame or hand-glass, and will form nice plants by next
season. Cactuses should be kept in a sunny situation, and have plenty
of water. Camellias which have made their season's growth, may be set
out of doors, to ripen. China roses may be re-potted, if requisite,
and are easily propagated now, in the same manner as geraniums.
Separate and pot violets, for early spring-flowering; keep them and
similar plants, as the cyclamen, &c., in the most shaded place out
of doors. The whole tribe of lilies are handsome window-plants, and
some of the dwarf Japan kinds peculiarly adapted for the purpose;
they are just beginning to bloom, and should have plenty of air
and water. The Chinese primrose may be sown in pots of light rich
earth, and, if covered with a piece of glass, will vegetate quickly,
and form nice plants by the autumn. Propagation of such plants as
myrtles, sweet-scented verbena, or lemon plant, chimney campanulas,
&c., is now easy, and should be attended to without loss of time.
Water all the plants with regularity, and in quantities proportionate
to their size and the state of the weather; but particularly keep the
leaves clean, by frequent sprinklings of clean water and sponging.
The essential points in the culture of every plant, is to allow the
functions of both roots and leaves to be carried on in a proper
manner--the first, by placing them in suitable soil, and the latter,
by clearing them of all impurities.
733. _August._--Needs only a continuance of the attention recommended
last month. Let them have plenty of air, light, and water, with a
slight protection from the mid-day sun; propagation may still be
carried on successfully. Pot the bella-donna and Guernsey lilies, to
flower in autumn; and the young plants of the Chinese primrose should
be placed three or four together, in pots of light rich earth, and
nursed, to forward their growth as far as possible.