SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 447 



The Seaforthia made a fine center for the group, its long, much dividing 

 leaves curving outward gracefully over the others. This is one of the best 

 palms for house culture. It is *not only more attractive in its habit of 

 growth than Latania Borbonica, which is more frequently seen, but it is 

 more effective when young, because of the length of its leaves with their fine 

 curve. It is entirely devoid of the stiff appearance peculiar to the other 

 variety. 



A good show of greenery is much more satisfactory than a window full of 

 sickly plants, from which we vainly try to coax flowers under circumstances 

 which are unfavorable to such results. He would confine his selection of 

 plants for shady windows entirely to such kinds as have good foliage, for 

 whose development sunshine is not at all necessary. If this is done, and no 

 flowers are expected, there will be no disappointment. Lycopodium planted 

 in each pot grew vigorously, and in a short time the soil was covered with 

 its pretty green. A frequent sprinkling kept it fresh and healthy. 



Window Plants fkom Seed. — We are indebted to Editor W. A. Stiles 

 for the following valuable notes for amateurs : 



As window plants we want something else besides geraniums, callas, carna- 

 tions, abutilons and fuchsias. True, choice plants are expensive, but we can 

 greatly lesson the price if we choose to raise from seeds many kinds of plants 

 we usually buy from the florist. A gloxinia "root" may cost twenty five 

 cents, but from a fifty-cent packet of seed we can raise fifty blooming plants 

 inside of six months, and the same with cyclamen and begonias. A hybrid 

 amaryllis of common note will cost a dollar, but from a fifty-cent packet of 

 seed we can raise a dozen plants that will blossom the third year. If you 

 raise too many cinerarias, primroses, cyclamens or other choice plants for 

 your own use, no doubt your neighbors will gladly exchange some of their 

 plants for some of yours. 



Acacias — Bloom in January till April. Scald the seeds and let them stay 

 in the water till it cools before sowing. They come up irregularly. A. 

 armata, A. mollissima, A. grandis, A. longifolia and A. pubesce?is are good 

 roots. The last named is often raised from root-cuttings. 



Amaryllis. — The hybrid varieties are easily raised from seed. When three 

 years old, if liberally treated, they are blooming plants and will continue to 

 flower and produce new bulbs. 



Begonias, tuberous-rooted. — Sow as early in the season as convenient. 

 Seedlings four or five months old should be blooming plants. The seeds are 

 like gold-colored dust; the young plants come up thickly enough but often 

 damp off soon after germinating. 



Calceolarias. — I sow for early in June, for main crop in July or early August. 

 These bloom from January till the end of May, but are at their best in April. 

 Keep them cool, near the glass, but away from sunshine, and water and ven- 

 tilate freely. 



Cinerarias. — Treat the same as calceolarias; they need more room and 

 come into blossom a little sooner — the earliest batch at Christmas. 



Chinese Primroses. — Sow in March for flowers in December and January; 

 if you do not sow till midsummer, you will get flowers in spring anyway. 

 Keep cool, near the glass, shaded from sunshine and freely ventilated. 



Cyclamen. — The Persian and its varieties are the only ones worth growing 

 in limited greenhouse or window room. Sow as soon as you get the seed, no 



