CARE OF PALMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 805, 28 October 1929, Page 5

CARE OF PALMS

Twice a week in summer and once a week in winter place palms in a tub with water enough to caver about an inch over the top of the pots. In about five or ten minutes you will see bubbles rapidly coming up from the centre, which indicates that the water has reached the roots; then lift the pot out of the tub and allow it to drain well. Once a month give them weak liquid manure. If the leaves have a brown tinge, caused by the dry air in the house, sponge every few weeks with fresh water. ■When planting ferns (other than maidenhair) in a hanging basket, line the basket with artificial moss, then place earth and ferns in the crown of an old felt hat, making holes for drainage. The hat holds the moisture and prevents the strong roots from breaking through the moss.

In order to prevent wire mattresses from rusting they should be protected by a thin film of grease or vaseline, which it is advisable to dissolve in petrol. About one tablespoonful of vaseline should be put into a pot, covered with petrol and stirred. If necessary add more petrol until the vaseline has just dissolved. Quickly paint both sides of the wire spring with the petrol containing the vaseline in solution. The petrol will evaporate leaving a thin film of grease over the spring. It is hardly necessary' to add that the mixture must be well brushed into the wire mesh. As petrol is inflammable, it should not be used in a room with an open fire or light.