HOUSE PLANTS. 373 



A choice collection of the Chinese azaleas should he in every green-house 

 They are easy of culture and bloom freely from February to May. The pots 

 must be well drained and shaded from the sun during summer, while the tops 

 of the plants are fully exposed to its rays. It is found that by such treatment 

 they are every year completely covered Avith flowers, and grow more stiff in 

 habit than when the whole plant is shaded. They should be repotted as soon 

 as they have done flowering. 



The wax plant, scientitically named Hoya, is a curiosity in its "vvay. There 

 are about twenty species, all of them climbers, requiring plenty of heat and 

 little Avater. The leaves are gi-uon and fleshy ; the flowers are mellifluous, 

 five-parted, and in pendulous bunches, slightly bearded, and have every ap- 

 pearance of the finest wax ; their color a beautiful blush. 



The heliotrope, w^hose fragrance exceeds that of most other flowers, lays no 

 claim to beauty. Of the twelve species all are scented, two x)f them most re- 

 markably so. 



Among the most beautiful of floral ornaments hyacinths rank deservedly 

 high, and few flowers more richly rewai'd the cultivator for the little pains 

 necessary to their successful culture. A very tasteful arrangement of these 

 with the bulbs is common in Germany. Single hyacinths, together with 

 scillas, snowdrops, crocuses, and other small bulbs, are placed in shallow 

 dishes — soup plates if nothing better offers, though, of course, glass dishes are 

 more elegant — arranged in any form to suit the fancy. The roots spread out 

 and intertwine until the flowers rest on a network that keeps them in their 

 places. Having selected the species, place a foundation of charcoal, and on 

 this a layer of damp white sand. Set the bulbs a little distance apart, and re- 

 move the dish to a dark room, where they may remain for about three weeks. 

 This treatment encourages the roots to form plentifully before the buds appear. 

 At the end of that time a little water may be given by pouring it down the 

 sides of the dish, and if the roots are pushing the bulbs up out of place, pour 

 dry sand over them till they are covered. When the blossom buds and the 

 leaves have made a little growth they should be brought to the light of a win- 

 dow, and in all respects treated like those in glasses. Dwarf hyacinths are 

 best for this use, the bulbs not being much larger than a walnut. 



A London seedsman advertises in his list "miniature hyacinths," which, on 

 good authority, are said to be perfect gems of beauty, especially for winter 

 bouquets, the huger sorts being too stiff to be used for that purpose. 



PLANTS PROPER FOR WINDOW CULTURE. 



As plants for windows are to be differently situated with regard to place 

 and surroundings from what they are in their natural state, it becomes neces- 

 sary to select such as are capable of accommodating themselves to circum- 

 stances ; and as the circumstances unfavorable to plants are want of pure air and 

 light, and uniform temperature, these must be kept in mind in the selection ; 

 the latter especially must be considered in regard to those species which are 

 accustomed to long seasons of rest in the winter. Rooms in crowded cities are 

 the most unnatural, and on that account the very worst situations in which 

 plants can be placed ; and therefore, if healthy shoots, with abundance of 

 bloom, are sought for, variety must be sacrificed. 



Plants which continue healthy for a long time in the confined air of rooms 

 are generally those which have a peculiar surface or texture in the foliage. 

 Such are many of the aloes, cactuses, mesembryanthemums, among Avhat are 

 called succulent plants, and in a higher temperature some of the curious order 

 of Orchidaceoe. 



The reason Avhy the succulent and epiphytous plants answer so well for 

 house culture is that their winter is one of drought, not of cold, and the latter 

 especially have little and some of them no mould at their roots in theirnatural 



