PLANTS 



plant in the hall or parlor cannot be equalled by 

 any Palm. Being so unlike all other decora- 

 tive plants, it is sure to attract attention, and 

 it never fails to win the admiration of every 

 lover of the beautiful in plant-life. Until 

 within the last year or two small plants were 

 quite expensive, but since the demand for them 

 has increased the florists have enlarged their 

 stock, and nowadays the price is very reason- 

 able. 



THE Ficus, or Rubber Plant, is popular 

 for two reasons: It has large and strik- 

 ing foliage, quite unlike that of ordinary 

 plants, and it is easily grown. Naturally 

 this commends it to the attention of the ama- 

 teur. A well-grown specimen with large, 

 healthy foliage all along its stalk is orna- 

 mental, but the plant as ordinarily grown is 

 more often unsatisfactory than otherwise. 

 Its foliage will be sparse and frequently dis- 

 colored, and the chief characteristic of the 

 plant will be naked branches. But the owner 

 keeps it from year to year, hoping for im- 

 provement, which is never likely to take 

 place. The only really satisfactory Ficus is 



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