ABUTILONS. 



33 



TUBEROSES EASILY GROWN. 



If to be grown in the open, start the bulbs in 

 pots in March. Use small pots, one bulb in 

 each, planting so the crown will be a little above 

 the surface of the soil. Set in a warm place ; 

 keep the earth moist but not wet. When the 

 bulbs show growth, give a cooler location, as 

 rapid growth tends to weaken the plants. 



Give fresh air freely, but do not allow any 

 chills, as the tuberose is very delicate and 

 tender. Set the pots out of doors for a lime on 

 mi'd, sunny days. Never give more water than 

 is necessary to keep the soil moist. If kept too 

 wet there will be few if any blossoms. About 

 the first of June transplant to a sunny spot in 

 the garden, where there is a good soil which 

 has been freely fertilized with well decayed cow 

 manure. To secure fine blossoms the soil must 

 b: rich and mellow. When the flower stalks 

 appear tie to a strong support with a narrow 

 strip of soft cloth, for wind, rain and sometimes 

 their own weight will cause them to break. 

 Sh >uld the nights grow cool before they flower, 

 cover with newspapers, which are light and a 

 perfect protection. 



If for house growth, set the bulbs in May, for 

 succession of bloom, from April to June, at in- 

 tervals of from two to three weeks. Fill six-inch 

 pots with one part each of sand, leaf mould, old 



cow manure and good garden soil. Treat as 

 directed above, sheltering from the intense rays 

 of the sun and keeping in mind the caution re- 

 garding watering too freely. The pots may be 

 kept on a sheltered piazza if preferred. Water 

 about once a week with liquid manure. Should 

 the green aphis appear spray with soapsuds or a 

 very weak solution of carbolic acid. The tube- 

 rose is a charming plant, with flowers of waxen 

 white and subtle, delicate, though heavy per- 

 fume. — American Agriculturist. 



The Auratum, or the Gold Banded Lily of 

 Japan, is one of the most magnificent lilies that 

 is grown in the garden. It is hardy in dry soils 

 but rots much more easily than other sorts in 

 damp soils. The leaves are long and pointed, 

 and the stems are very slender but strong and 

 wiry. The flowers are very large, the petals 

 being of the purest snowy whiteness, thickly 

 spotted with chocolate crimson spots. It sheds 

 a most delightful fragrance, which is a blend- 

 ing of vanilla, nutmeg and it would seem of all 

 the sweet perfumes known. These bulbs are 

 seldom ever sent out before November. From 

 several bulbs I have had flowers for about one 

 month, each stalk blooming at a different time. 

 — American Florist. 



ABUTILONS. 



j|ENDANT flowers are always admired, 

 as there is a charm about them ; and 

 the Abutilon is one of the most ser- 

 viceable for window gardening. The 



erect, stately form of some kind, and 



the graceful flexibility of others, linked with 



clean and clear cut foliage renders them always 



charming. 



Among the old sorts, for years my favorites, 



were the Thomsonii, with its orange flowers ; 



Boule de Neige, white, and Lantana, crimson. 



A. Megapotamicum variegatum is so slender 



and flexible, I always grew it with Boule de 

 Niege in preference to any other support, and 

 the result is charming, this being such a profuse 

 bloomer. 



The new sorts are so handsome and varied 

 one scarcely is able to say which to choose, 

 The Lavitzii is of dwarf habit : and of great 

 value in the garden and house. Souvenir dt 

 Bonn, with its variegated leaves and orange 

 flowers, should be in every collection. 



Eclipse, a semi-drooping spotted leaf ; and 

 Erecta, a bright pink of outstanding flowers ; 



