solution should be very weak.

"The best varieties to grow are the sword, Boston, holly, and
maidenhair. Use spider ferns for a fern dish.

"Palms require great quantities of water, even temperatures, little
direct sunlight, and daily sponging of the leaves. A sponge dampened in
clean water is the best thing to use for this purpose. The most popular
and easiest-to-grow palms are the following: _Cocos Weddelliana_, date
palm, kentia, and the arcea."

"Will you tell us about the watering of plants?" asked Ethel.

"Surely, although I can say but little since it depends largely upon
good judgment. Water a plant when it needs it. Keep the soil moist but
not soaked. If plants are beginning to decay or a mould is coming on the
surface of the soil, the trouble usually is over watering. At such a
time let the soil of the pot or box dry out. Then water carefully after
that. If the pot is always damp or has become green you may know that
the trouble is either too much water or poor drainage."

"What pests are likely to attack our plants?" questioned Elizabeth.

"Lice and scale troubles are the chief pests of the house plants. You
all know plant lice. Use kerosene emulsion for these. The scale appears
as a scaly mass, usually on the stems of plants. These scales are living
animal forms. The best way to get rid of them is to wipe them off with a
rag soaked in kerosene emulsion."

"Why didn't you give some one a rubber plant?" was the next question
from Miriam.

"I guess because of its bad habit of growing so tall and losing its
lower leaves. They look like giraffes at the circus. But one may top
these plants."

"What is topping?" and "How do you do it?" burst from Dee and Helena at
the same time.

"I suppose you see that if one could get that nice-looking top off and
start again the old rubber plant would be all right. So about a foot
below the last leaf on the stalk--I mean the last leaf numbering from
the top--- you should start the operation. Cut a slit in the bark at
this place. Pack soil about the stem. Then encase this with sacking. So
you have a nice ball of earth packed about the stem. Let the ball be
about six inches in diameter. Keep it moist. You can sprinkle the water
on. After a time roots will appear coming through the sacking. The roots
have started to develop at this incision of the stem. Now the stalk may
be cut below these new roots and the new rubber plant potted."

"That is very interesting," began