176 WINDOW GARDENING. 



stowed away in a closet, or wherever they will be out of the reach of frost ; but 

 provided that is excluded, the cooler they are kept the better. Light is by uo 

 means essential, and the windows may therefore be spared for other subjects. 



The second class of plants consists of those which, although requiring no fire- 

 heat, and only occasional watering, yet need a window of good aspect. This 

 includes the evergreens, such as the Myrtle, Heaths, Geraniums, Verbenas, Calla 

 cethiopica, Cinerarias, Eoses, Calceolarias, Mimulus, Cantua dependent, MUraria coccinea, 

 Crassula, Cacti, Aloes, Mesembryanthemums, and all other succulents. The whole 

 of these require to be exposed to a good light, iu order to preserve them in a healthy 

 condition ; but they must be kept as cool as possible, and all the succulents will do 

 perfectly well without a drop of water from November to February. The Cinerarias, 

 Mimulus, Geraniums, and Heaths, however, will need an occasional watering, more 

 especially the two former, as they continue to grow throughout the winter. The 

 Calla may be kept nearly dry, and should have only sufficient water given it to 

 keep its leaves erect. This beautiful plant should never be exposed to the 

 excitement of a warm room in winter ; it will bear any amount of cold above actual 

 frost, and will flower more freely the following season, from being kept at this low 

 temperature. The Camellia is not unfrequently grown in the window, but it will 

 not absolutely need a sunny aspect, although the weak rays of the winter sun will 

 do it no harm. It must, however, be kept at an equal temperature, or the blossom 

 buds will fall, and therefore a warm sitting room will be objectionable. This plant 

 will require to be watered more frequently than most of the other plants we have 

 named ; the soil should be kept thoroughly moistened, but not wet. 



The third class of plants contains those which may be preserved in a moderately 

 warm sitting room without receiving much injury ; they consist chiefly of the 

 Acacias, Chinese Primrose, Cytisus racemosus, Cyclamens, Lachenalias, Hyacinths, 

 and other early bulbs. To these may be added the common dwarf Chrysanthe- 

 mums in the present month, and the Cinerarias at a later period, when they are 

 about to bloom. The beautiful Torenia asiatica figured in our first plate, will 

 require to be kept in a warm room, as it will not live at a low temperature, and it 

 will be preserved in a healthier condition if pruned in, and covered M'ith a large 

 bell-glass. We do not mean to affirm that no other than the plants we have just 

 named may be kept iu a heated apartment ; but we are persuaded that all those we 

 have given under the second class, and which are very commonly allowed to remain 

 in warm rooms, will be far better in a cool window. An exception may, perhaps, 

 be made for the Geraniums ; but even these, the least delicate of window plants, 

 receive much injury from the dust created by coal-fires. 



Many of the plants which require to be kept cool in the early winter months 

 may, however, be removed to a warmer room later in the season ; among these may be 

 cited the Cinerarias, Ixias, and Mimulus. The subject will be resumed in our next. 



