House Plants. 105 



Azaleas trained in the form of broad, low bushes, are imported 

 from Holland with the flowering buds already formed. They require 

 an abundance of water at all times, but need very little heat. By 

 moving them into a warm temperature they may be brought into bloom 

 at any desired time in the winter. After the flowers are open, keep 

 them cool, and they will last several weeks. Their large double and 

 semi-double flowers, in various shades of red, pink and variegated, and 

 white, literally cover the bushes. 



Cyclamens and Primroses are very desirable plants for an east 

 window in a moderately cool room. They remain in flower a greater 

 part of the winter. Care must be exercised not to keep their soil 

 saturated nor let it get very dry. 



Fuchsias and Biegonias are not as popular as they were before cut 

 flowers came into such general favor, though the leading varieties of 

 Begonias of both, free flowering and fancy foliage types, are of easy 

 culture, thrive in partial shade, and deserve a place in east window 

 collections. 



Hydrangeas, propagated from cuttings in the fall, are grown con- 

 tinually for one year, then rested by keeping cool and rather dry during 

 November and December. In January they are moved into a tempera- 

 ture of 60 degrees at night, given liberal watering and full sun, and 

 as they become root bound shifted into larger pots or fed with liquid 

 manure, and they will flower by Easter. Their demand for water in- 

 creases as the flower buds progress, and any lack of water will result 

 in smaller flowers. Their immense panicles of white or lavender pink 

 flowers literally hide the plant when well grown, and last for months. 



Carnations, which are making such wonderful strides in the cut 

 flower markets, are also useful as potted plants. Bushy, short stemmed, 

 early flowering varieties, are best suited for house culture. The insuf- 

 ficient light of the dwelling would make long stemmed varieties too 

 slender. Early varieties yield a sufl^icient crop of flowers to pay for the 

 outlay before the short, dull days of winter affect them. They grow 

 stronger and produce larger flowers in a moderately cool room. Among 

 the good varieties for pot culture are: Harry Fenn, crimson; J. H. 

 Manley and Crusader, scarlet; Mrs. T. W. Lawson, Enchantress and 

 Marquess, pink; Stella, variegated red and white; Dorothy Whitney, 

 yellow; Gov. Wolcott and Boston Market, white. 



The Rose, the queen of the cut flower market, has been more 



