iSyi.] FLOWERING -PLANTS FOR DECEMBER. 547 



moreana, and gracilis Heaths are easy of culture, and can be liad in 

 quantity for conservatory, or single specimens for rooms : the first men- 

 tioned is really superb. For December there are other Heaths, but 

 these are the best. They should not be crowded amongst other plants, 

 nor do we care about them for cutting. Epacrises must be placed on 

 a par with the Heaths just mentioned: they are all exceedingly bright 

 and showy, but not well suited for cutting from : at least, we like to 

 cut them as little as possible. The Camellia is in full force in De- 

 cember, even out of doors, in the south : any gardener with a lot of 

 Camellia blooms in December will know well what to do with them. 

 Chinese Primulas are perhaps the next plant we should mention 

 as being of a staple character. Large plants, well bloomed, are 

 exceedingly neat for small vases. Small plants in 4 - inch pots are 

 excellent for edging : these should be grown in battalions for various 

 purposes. Tree Carnations of different colours are a leading feature 

 for December, and of easy culture. Large plants which have been well 

 attended to out of doors on a sunny border, pinched and watered, 

 lifted in October full of buds, make a fine display in winter ; the blooms 

 last a long time after being cut. Spring-struck plants grown in small 

 pots are useful for mixing in stands in the conservatory. Cyclamens 

 of sorts come in in quantities for all purposes, like Primulas. Small 

 seedling plants make neat edging-plants for small stands ; and the 

 pretty little Oxalis tricolor is, if possible, more showy for winter, but 

 does not last so long. This is a plant which should also be grown in 

 quantity, and managed along with the Cyclamens. Cinerarias early 

 sown will be in bloom in quantity, in light airy houses, and are of great 

 use as conservatory plants. The plant does not stand the heat of 

 rooms, and the flowers soon fade when cut. Schyzostylis coccinea will 

 be at its best in December. This is an exceedingly easily-managed 

 plant, and very showy, planted out in spring and lifted in October 

 when the flower-spikes are up. Ours were not lifted until the month 

 of November, and are now in a cool orchard-house, waiting their turn 

 of the conservatory in December. This plant can soon be got up in 

 quantity from seed. Angelonia angustifolia, another perpetual-bloom- 

 ing plant, with strong purple spikes of flowers, should be grown from 

 cuttings in spring, planted out and lifted ; wants a dry airy house ; can 

 also be had early from seed. Mignonette, of which we cannot dis- 

 cover more than one sort, although we have sown several, only just 

 wants to be mentioned, because it must never be forgotten for the win- 

 ter. Trees trained umbrella-shaped in the usual way can be used 

 in stands, with the surface dressed with smaller flowering-plants, 

 otherwise they are rather gawky. We have a plan for Tree- 

 Mignonette, where the shoots are not tied down, but tied to wires 



