SECOND WEEK IN JUNE 



of the sunshine penetrates the shade. All the gesneraceous 

 tribe need semi-shade, and should never be exposed to the 

 full rays of the sun ; but, on the other hand, light in full 

 measure is needed by many plants to bring their blossoms to 

 perfection. Lobelia (the new double variety in cobalt-blue, 

 Kathleen Mallard being the best) makes a charming basket, 

 a cloud of tiny flowers hanging around and below it in 

 profusion ; and this plant does best in the full sunshine. 

 Sedum carneum, too, with rose-tipped foliage and pink 

 flowers, fails to put on its pretty tints unless it obtains the 

 sunshine ; and Nierembergia gracilis, a trailing plant of 

 great beauty, in mauve and white, also loves a certain 

 amount of light. Lotus peliorynchus is a rather uncommon 

 plant from TenerifFe, with light trailing foliage, grey-green 

 in colour, and bright scarlet flowers produced at the axils 

 of the leaves. These pea-shaped blossoms are not always 

 freely produced, however, the usual cause being that 

 the plant is indulged with soil of a rich nature. Being 

 a rock trailer on the sandy slopes of TenerifFe, it needs a 

 compost of light loam, sand, and leaf mould in equal parts, 

 with an admixture of charcoal in small lumps and excellent 

 drainage ; a young plant, if potted up in the spring, usually 

 makes an abundance of growth during the summer, but fails 

 to blossom until the following year, when it should not be 

 disturbed by repotting until after it has bloomed, but may 

 be slightly top-dressed with rich soil, and given a dose of 

 soot-water (in a thin and clear state) twice a week, with 

 pure water between whiles, for it is a thirsty plant when 

 in growth, although it needs to be kept fairly dry in the 

 winter. Sunshine is necessary to it, especially during the 

 spring. 



This is the best time in which to start a fresh stock 

 of potpourri, for rose petals (which should be gathered 

 from the old-world cabbage, Persian, and moss roses, with 

 others from such fragrant flowers as General Jacqueminot, 

 La France, &c.) are plentiful. 



The following is an excellent recipe for potpourri as 

 it was made a century ago, which will retain its fragrance 



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