334 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
water. Don’t use large pots—for large plants, six to seven inches are _ 
sufficient, while common ones are best in four and one-half to five 
inch pots. ‘ 
The alyssum, double sweet, makes an admirable box or basket 
plant in-doors. 
The abutilons must have plenty of root room; prune or pinch 
freely. The Souvenir de Bonn is a valuable new one. The Eclipse 
makes nice hanging baskets. 
Callas must be rested in summer to secure flowers in winter. Lay 
them out-doors in summer on the side to dry out and re-pot in Au- 
gust. Plenty of water, heat and liquid manure, with small pots; 
makes them flower freely. The Little Gem, spotted and common 
calla are good kinds. ; 
Begonias. Tuberous are most beautiful; they must have moist 
air, large pots, light—but little sun, and much water. These plants 
are wonderful when well done, but very unsatisfactory if neglected. 
They are summer blooming. Mrs. French, Deutcher Ruhm, Lafay- 
ette and Louis d’Or are good double varieties. 
Rex begonias are not watered over the leaves. Keep them facing 
east, west or north; they dislike the hot sun. An occasional 
showering or sponging is necessary. Do not fuss with Lucy Clos- 
son or Countesse Erdody, but raise Silver Leaf, Rex, Marguise de 
Peralta, Mrs. Shepard, etc. Among flowering begonias, Rubea is 
first, then Vernon, Metallica, Alba Picta and Otto Hacker are good. 
Cannas are showy pot plants. Give them rich earth, sun and much 
water. Star of ’91 is still the best for pots,as it is the smallest, 
Koenige’s Charlotte is the best new variety. Carnations want a cool 
place and sprinkling. Grow Aurora, Fred Dorner and Lizzie 
McGowan. The Marguerite carnations are not worth growing. Cy- 
perus alternifolius (umbrella plant) is a good all around plant; it 
looks like a palm and is tough and hardy; it grows in earth or 
water, sun or shade, and is very desirable; it has no insect pest; the 
striped variety is pretty. Fuchsias are summer blooming and have 
no business in a warm room in winter. Put them in your cellar. 
In summer, water freely and give a shady place. Mrs. Hill is the 
best white; Phenomenal the best purple and double. 
Ferns. The Nephrolepis davalloides and exaltata are very good 
house ferns. These make fine pots or baskets. Build a loghouse of 
sticks, line with moss and fill with earth for a hanging piece. 
Geraniums want small pots and a rather dry, warm place. Heavy 
clayey earth is best. The newer single varieties are excellent. 
Pelargoniums (Lady Washington) are to be kept very cool in winter 
and free from aphis. The common bud dropping is caused by over- 
heating. Hibiscus are among the best evergreen, enduring plants. 
The flowers are very large and produced freely in warm quarters. 
Never let these get chilled; pinch freely and give large pots. It has 
no insects and is very desirable summer and winter. Grandiflorus, 
Versicolor, Sub-Violaceous, Rubra, Miniatus semiplena are culti- 
vated. Hydrangeas are often spoiled by pruning. Never pinch or 
prune after a growth is made, as a flower bud is on the top of the 
shoot. Keep them shaded and moist in summer and encourage a 
