RICHAKDIAS. 



-growing season. They will succeed bust 

 in a rich soil, made of a compost of 

 good loam and cow manure in equal 

 parts. 



Richardia Africana is the proper name 

 of the variety above referred to as most 

 ^rown by amateurs. It is a winter and 

 spring bloomer, and is usually allowed 

 to rest in the summer months, by turn- 

 ing down the pot on its edge and leaving 

 the plant without water ; or it may be 



planted out and left without care until 

 early fall, and then potted. 



R. alhoiii iculaUi, or the while spotted 

 Calla, is by far the best of the other 

 three for amateur cultivation. This one 

 is highly prized for its foliage, which has 

 a variegated appearance, while its green- 

 ish-white spathe, though smaller than 

 that of R. Africana, is still very inter- 

 esting. 



HYACINTHS. 



'TJ7YACINTHS to bloom for Easter 

 ri should be planted early this month 

 IJi (January). For successful blooming 

 of the bulbs planted in potsthereare two 

 things absolutely essential, and one is that 

 until the shootsare two inches long about 

 the same proportion of water should be 

 kept around them and the bulb, keeping 

 them from the light and air. The other 

 requirement is that the soil in which the 

 bulb is planted should be well mixed 

 with sand. As soon as the bulb is 

 planted it should be placed in a cool 

 place and watered sparingly until it be- 

 gins to shoot up its leaves, when it may 

 be more freely supplied. After it has 

 fairly started in a cool place it may be 

 transferred to the sitting-room window, 

 and in a few weeks its beauty and fra- 

 grance will fully compensate for the care 

 bestowed upon it. The hyacinth is a 

 native of the Levant, and was introduced 

 into Germany early in the fifteenth cen- 

 tury. So popular did it become that in 

 1700 over 2000 varieties had been pro- 

 pagated. It is named after Hyacinthus, 

 whom the gods, unable to save, changed 

 into a flower. The Greeks fancied they 

 could perceive on the petals of this 

 flower the notes of grief. — Detroit Tri- 

 bune. 



BEGONIAS FOR THE WINDOW. 



T is safe, I think, to say that Begonias 

 are only second to Geraniums in 

 J popularity for window gardening. 

 They are the most interesting of all 

 easily grown plants because of the diver- 

 sity of their foliage and the difl'erence 

 in their habit of growth, and are great 

 favorites with the average plant lover. 

 One of the most beautiful is B. manicata 

 aurea. Its principal charm lies in its 

 handsomely variegated foliage, but its 

 delicate, lace-like blossoms are not to be 

 despised, and altogether, with its beauty 

 and ease of culture it is a most satisfac- 

 tory plant. Another favorite is B. sem- 

 perflorens gigantea rosea. It is a strong 

 grower, and-a wonderfully free bloomer : 

 it is besides very handsome, having a 

 vivid scarlet spot in the center of each 

 leaf. The bright, long stemmed blos- 

 soms harmonize admirably with the 

 polished foliage. B. Bruanti, though 

 seldom mentioned, and not always cata- 

 logued, is another excellent sort, thriv- 

 ing all winter long with little or no care 

 and blossoming with admirable persis- 

 tency. B. Thurstonii is beautiful in leaf, 

 and makes a most shapely plant. Its 

 coloring is very pleasing and it makes a 

 welcome addition to the winter window 

 garden. These are to be depended 

 upon for the ordinary sitting-room win- 

 dow. — [Farm and Home. 



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