FOR LOVERS OF FLOWERS. 



477 



count chiefly to their dislike to an over sup- 

 ply of moisture at the roots. 



Amongst other succulent plants that have 

 a very nice appearance in a window are 

 varieties of the Agave. A small plant of 

 the variegated type of Agave Americanus is 

 shown in the cut. The two silvery marked, 

 rosette shaped plants are variegated varie- 



Gas Proof Plants. 



ties of the Echeveria or Cotyledon secunda 

 glauca, whilst the larger and darker colored 

 rosette shaped plant is the Echeveria metal- 

 lica. Another plant seen in the collection 

 is the Gasteria maculata or Hound's Tongue 

 plant, with its long spotted leaves branching 

 out from either side of the centre of the 

 plant. Another odd looking plant showing 

 a long flower spike is the Africa imbricata ; 

 this is also a very enduring window plant if 

 not given too much water. . 



Many varieties of Aloes, Haworthias, as 

 well as some varieties of Cacti make splen- 

 did plants for resisting the fumes of gas, 

 but like most of the plants before mentioned 

 are not of a very highly decorative or grace- 

 ful habit. At the same time they are very 

 useful to form the basis of a collection of 

 window or house plants and are a very in- 

 teresting class of plants, as well as very en- 

 during, when given proper treatment. 

 When relieved here and there with a pot of 

 bulbs in flower or a plant or two having 

 more graceful foliage, they have a unique 



and attractive appearance in a window. The 

 chief reason so few plant growers succeed 

 in the culture of many of these succulent 

 plants is from giving the plants too frequent 

 and too copious waterings. 



Among the more popular and better 

 known decorative house plants that will en- 

 dure for a time the baneful effects of coal 

 gas are some varieties of palms, aspidistra, 

 begonia or ferns. 



Varieties of the Phoenix or Date pafms 

 will withstand gas for a longer period of 

 time than most kinds of palms. Phoenix 

 rupicola, P. spinosa, P. sylvestris, and the 

 true date palm Phoenix dactylifera, being 

 about the best varieties to withstand the dry 

 arid atmosphere of the house. The Kentia 

 and Latania palms, owing to the thinner tex- 

 ture of their leaves, succumb quicker to the 

 effects of gas fumes than do the Phoenix 

 palms, although the latter are not as grace- 

 ful in appearance as are the Kentia and La- 

 tania palms. 



Aspidistra lurida is one of the best house 

 plants we have amongst foliage plants. Its 

 hard glossy green leaves, if kept sponged 

 frequently with clear tepid water, will resist 

 for a long time the efifect of gas fumes. 

 The rubber plant, Ficus elastica, is another 

 good enduring plant for the house. Fre- 

 quent sponging of the leaves of these two 

 last named plants, as well as those- of the 

 palms is necessary, if the most enduring and 

 pleasing results are to be attained in ' eir 

 culture. 



Amongst begonias the most enduring is 

 Begonia manicata aurea, B. manicata and 

 P. sanguinea. None of these begonias, 

 however, will flower successfully where 

 there is the slightest indication of coal gas 

 fumes.' Their foliage, however, is very 

 attractive and enduring. 



The Boston Fern is one of the hardiest 

 and most enduring ferns for the house. 

 Pteris cretica or the Cretan fern, Pteris 

 Wimsetti, Pteris Hastata. Aspidium Tensi- 



