1884.] PLANTS SUITABLE FOR ROOM CULTURE. 43 



than a good plaut of Cocos Weddelliana it is difficult to imagine ; and 

 although a native of Brazil and usually grown in our stoves, it has 

 been found to thrive fully as well as any of those others mentioned. 

 Palms grown in rooms do not require re-potting often ; every second 

 or thircl year will be amply sufficient, the soil used being principallj^ 

 loam, but as to this they are in no way e.Kacting. What will benefit 

 them most, next to careful watering, is to keep the leaves free from 

 dust ; and this, applying to all room plants alike, may be effected 

 either by rubbing the leaves gently with a wet sponge, or laying the 

 pots on their sides, and letting the water run out of l-he tap for a 

 minute upon the plant once a week at least, or oftener if required. 

 Other plants which have good stout leaves, and stand well, are Ficus 

 elastica (the India rubber plant), one of the best and most handsome 

 of all decorative room plants. The leaves have such a fine bold cha- 

 racter, being large, leathery, and glossy green ; the young foliage are 

 enveloped in reddish sheatlis, botanically termed stipules, which are 

 interesting since they show the circulation of the sap extremely 

 well under the microscope. Scarcely inferior to the last is Aralia 

 Sieboldii, Siebold's Aralia, a Japanese plant belonging to the same 

 family as the ivy, now largely used for room decoration, for which, 

 from its hardy robust character, it is well adapted. The variegated- 

 leaved form is also very distinct and pretty. A few othei's, the 

 names of which I can at present only mention, are Cissus antarctica, 

 the Kangaroo vine (Australian) ; Aspidistra lurida Avith its variegated 

 form, a native of China ; Cordyline australis, the Australian Dracaena ; 

 and Grislenia maerophylla, the large-leaved Grislenia, a handsome 

 evergreen dogwood from New Zealand. 



FLOWERING PLANTS. 



Flowering plants are rather more difficult to get to do well in 

 rooms, yet fair results may be arrived at even with them. Among 

 the most useful of this class, I need hardly tell you that the 

 pelargonium and fuchsia are most invaluable. I merely mention a 

 few other suitable plants which you may grow. Begonia discolor has 

 been long used as a window plant, and at one time was a great 

 favourite. We have now a newer race of tuberous-rooted Begonias 

 which may be also employed, many of them being very showy 

 and not at all difficult to manage. Vallota purpurea, Campanula 

 pyramidalis, and Saxifraga pyramidalis may also be tried. I look 

 upon the culture of hyacinths as the one deserving of least credit to 

 the grower, the principal credit being due to certain Dutch gentle- 

 men who grow them for us, and make the culture of these and 

 other bulbs a speciality ; and whether or not we always give our 



