PLANTS FOB WINDOW GARDENING. 147 



CUPHEA. 



The only plant of this family, desirable for a window 

 plant, is the little Mexican C. ignea or platycentra. This 

 is a sparkling little gem of a plant, always in bloom. Plant 

 it in the flower border in summer, re-pot in autumn, and all 

 winter it will gladden you by a profusion of its bright scar- 

 let tubes tipped with a ring of black and white. The plant 

 never grows above a foot in height, and is just suited for 

 the window. Soil, about three parts loam, one each of sand 

 and manure. Water freely, but do not allow the soil to 

 become sodden. 



CACTUS. 



There are seven families of Cacti, containing each a great 



n 

 number of species. Those chiefly grown as parlor plants 



come under the families Cereus and EpiphyUum. The for- 

 mer family is a native of all dry, tropical regions of the 

 western continent. 



The soil most suitable is, two parts peat, one part broken 

 potsherds, broken coarse, one part loam or old mortar rub- 

 bish, and one part manure ; mix these well together and 

 secure good drainage. 



During the summer, the plants should stand out of doors 



