PLANTS FOR THE WINDOW. 



427 



Dahlia roots can be kept best in a tem- 

 perature of about 45 degrees. These, also, 

 do not like a dry, furnace-heated atmos- 

 phere, preferring a rather damp, cool cel- 

 lar. The stems should be cut down to about 

 six inches above the roots. The roots are 

 very easily damaged by frost when exposed. 



Anthericum^Picturatum 



A fairly dry cool place is necessary to 

 keep gladioli bulbs successfully. Avoid 

 putting them in a very damp cellar as it in- 

 duces mildew and rot. A very dry cellar 

 is not advisable for them. A dry basement, 

 room, or cellar, where a temperature of 40 

 of 50 degrees prevails, suits very well. It 

 is best to leave three or four inches of the 

 flowering stem on the bulbs or corms for a 

 few weeks after digging. I have Kept 

 gladioli bulbs successfully in a moist, cool 

 cellar by stringing them to the joists in 

 paper or cotton bags, or tied in bunches by 

 the stems. 



Old plants or stumps of geraniums, if not 

 frozen too severely, can be taken from the 

 bed or border, cut back and potted in sand 

 or sandy soil and be kept through the winter 

 with very little trouble. In digging, care 

 should be taken not to break off the roots. 

 Cut the top growth of the plant down so that 

 onlv two or three inches of the base of the 



shoots remain near the main stem, and 

 shorten the roots a little if very long. Plant 

 three or four of these stumps or roots in 

 some sharp fine sand, or in half sand and 

 half potting soil, in a six-inch pot. Water 

 them well once and stand the pot away in a 

 cool window or in a light cellar. One plant 

 can be put in a four-inch pot or smaller if 

 desired. Give them water only when the 

 sand or soil is getting quite dry, more es- 

 pecially if they are put in the cellar. A tem- 

 perature of 50 degrees suits them. If a 

 large number of plants are wanted pack 

 them closely in sand or sandy^ soil in boxes 

 three inches deep, with holes in the bottom 

 for drainage purposes. The sand or soil 

 should be kept only barely moist, never wet 

 or soddened. These roots or stumps can 

 be potted at any time during winter or 

 spring and will make fine bushy plants next 

 season. They are frequently much better 

 than autumn struck cuttings. 



SOME FINE WINDOW PLANTS. 



The Anthericum picturatum is suitable for 

 window or house decoration in winter, and 

 should be more commonly grown than it is. 

 Its pretty variegated yellow and green 

 leaves, together with its easy culture, m^kes 



Impatiens Sultani 



