WINDOW-GARDEN 



steadily growing during summer, but has had 

 every bud removed as soon as seen. Such a 

 plant will bloom profusely from January to 

 June. 



The Abutilon is an excellent winter bloomer. 

 It has the twofold merit of having fine foliage 

 and pretty flowers. It is commonly known as 

 Flowering Maple, because of the striking re- 

 semblance of the foliage of most varieties to 

 that of our native Sugar Maple. It is some- 

 times known as Bell Flower, because of the 

 shape of its pendent blossoms. It can hardly 

 be called a profuse bloomer, but it is a constant 

 one. In color it ranges from pure white to 

 dark crimson, scarlet, pink, and yellow. It is 

 of comparatively rapid growth, and small 

 plants soon become good-sized specimens. Its 

 habit of growth is upright, and by judicious 

 training it can be grown as a miniature tree 

 that will always attract attention and challenge 

 admiration, with its wealth of bright, glossy 

 foliage, beneath which its bell-shaped flowers 

 swing gracefully on their long, slender stems. 

 Like the Geranium, it is almost entirely free 

 from insects. This is a feature that will rec- 

 ommend it to those who have had to fight for 

 the life of their plants against aphis, scale, 



171 



