FLORICULTURE. 345 
REPORT ON HOUSE AND GREENHOUSE FLOWERING PLANTS. 
E. NAGEL, MINNEAPOLIS. 
I think this report had better be about flowering plants best adapted 
to house culture, as that is what most people would like to know. It 
seems easy for anyone acquainted with plants to select what he wants, 
but for one not knowing much about it to take a catalogue and pick out 
what is wanted by the description is quite difficult, especially in the new 
things called novelties, most of which are worthless, but which people 
will buy on account of the high prices and the glowing descriptions. For 
instance, last spring the wholesale price of the Waban rose was $1.00 each, 
and in the fall it was $8.00 per hundred. So it is with nearly all novelties. 
It is better to go slow on new varieties of plants, until they have been 
tested and found to be what they are claimed to be, for,if not really 
worthy, they will be dropped from the list in a year or two. 
My aim in this report is to give a list of those flowering plants that, in 
my opinion, are best adapted to house culture, and that every one can 
grow. I will make it as brief as possible. 
Abutilon (Flowering Maple).—Flowers pendulous or bell-shaped; several 
colors, white, pink, yellow and red; flowers freely during winter and 
spring. 
Achania Malvaviscus.—Resembling somewhat the former, color bright 
scarlet, free flowering, flowers on the end of every branch. 
Azalea Indica.—Native of China, a greenhouse shrub; when in full bloom 
the most gorgeous window plant in cultivation; colors, pure white, varie- 
gated, pink, bright scarlet and dark red. Season for flowering naturally 
_about March and April, but will stand forcing and can be had in bloom 
by Christmas. Most people have an idea that after blooming they should 
rest, but that is a mistake, and many plants arespoiled in that way. They 
make their season’s growth right after blooming, and they must not be 
neglected at that time. Give them a good, light, cool place, keep them 
watered Jike other plants until spring, about the middle of May place 
them outside in a bed, and do not neglect to waterthem. They will thus 
bloom year after year. 
Begonias.—This is another valuable house plant, always clean, never af- 
fected by insects. There are many varieties, all good house plants. The 
tuberous-rooted bloom only in the summer. 
Chrysanthemum.—This is one of the best and most fashionable blooming 
plants for fall and early winter. There isan endless variety, divided into 
three different classes, the Chinese, Japanese and Pompon. The Pom- 
pon are the small flowering ones and are the easiest to grow; the Chinese 
have large, regular shaped flowers, and are somewhat harder to grow 
than the former. The Japanese, are the hardest to grow, and are the 
most fashionable. The flowers are large, irregular and fringed, and, if not 
properly treated, most flowers will be imperfect. 
Carnations—Can be had in bloom all winter; a great many varieties, 
white, pink, scarlet, variegated, dark red and yellow. They should 
be made from cuttings in the fall or early part of the winter, planted 
