MONTHLY CALENDAR. 291 



great variety ot colours : the scarlets are very effective iu foliage, as well as 

 flower. Such kinds as Punch and Wellington Plei'o are very suitable for 

 window-culture, so are some of the scarlet horseshoe-leaved, as Amazon and 

 Compactuni. Christina is a beautiful pink sort, and a very free bloomer ; 

 Madame Voucher combines the habit of the scarlet geranium with a pure 

 white flower. The larger-flowered sorts are efiective while in bloom, but are 

 not so continuous. Fuchsias are worthy attention, and are mostly continuous 

 bloomers, and of easy culture. Callas, or Arums, make a handsome appear- 

 ance, whether in bloom or not. Genestas are excellent plants for window- 

 culture, and so are myrtles. These are of easy culture ; and, under fair treat- 

 ment, are very clean and free from insects, — no small advantage where few 

 conveniences are at hand . Bulbs, such as Hyacinths, Dwarf Tulips, Snow- 

 drops, Crocuses, &c., should never be dispensed with ; for if bought in good 

 condition, they will never fail to bloom ; and a few dozen of them will make a 

 window look gay from February to the end of May : they may be potted or 

 l^laced in glasses, and will flower with no other convenience than a window ; 

 but, with the assistance of a frame, not only a great many may be grown, but 

 a succession of blooming bulbs may be kept up for a long time. In the frame, 

 indeed, many plants may be grown or raised, that would not be tolerated in a 

 room ; such as plants raised from seeds, as Mignonette and Nemophila. For 

 violets, auriculas also, and other plants, the frame will be found of great use. 

 In the selection of plants, it is well to consider the position and temperature 

 of the room. For town culture, the Chrysanthemum stands at the head of 

 the list ; and many sedums and saxifrages, and such plants as have smooth 

 shiny leaves, are to be preferred. In the open country it may reasonably be 

 supposed that plants of any kind will thrive : it may be observed, also, what 

 plants are known to do best in the neighbourhood. Practised gardeners may 

 be of great use to cottagers, in giving a few kindly bints, in their vai'ious 

 localities, in selecting their flowers. 



800. Soil. — In the choice of soils for pot-culture very much depends, but not 

 in the way generally imagined. A few grim, sooty plants may occasionally be 

 seen occupying a window-ledge, and their appearance ascribed to the smoky 

 atmosphex'e. This is, in fact, the case to a certain extent, but not wholly so : 

 they are mostly potted in soil taken from a back-yard, impregnated with foul 

 gases, so that plants would not grow in it in the remotest part of the country. 

 In towns, where proper soil can scarcely be met with, it is advisable to purchase 

 it at some suburban nursery ; by stating what sort oi plant it is required for, 

 no mistake can be made : sixpence will purchase a bushel or so. 



Soi. All soft-wooded plants, such as Geraniums, Fuchsias, Cinerai-ias, &c., 

 do best in a soil composed of two parts yellow loam, one very rotten dung, 

 one leaf-mould, with sand enough to make it porous ; but some plants, such as 

 Ericas, Epacridae, and Azaleas, require peat ; and others, as the Camellia, 

 Daphne, Corraea, a mixture of peat and loam. Although the first-named soil 

 will grow almost any plant, still those that require peat must have it, as no 

 substitute will produce the same effects. It should be observea, that soils 



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