CHAPTER XLV 



FIRST WEEK IN DECEMBER 



THE conservatory in winter should be quite as gay as in 

 summer, for many are the blossoms which come from 

 the Antipodes and various tropical countries, which 

 will bloom during our cold months if supplied with slight 

 warmth, to say nothing of the mass of bright bulbs which 

 open about Christmas-time. 



Abutilons (in many colours, white, pink, terracotta, 

 crimson, and yellow) may be induced to blossom all 

 through the year in a greenhouse if planted against a wall, 

 with a free root run of rich soil. In fact, under these 

 circumstances they are difficult to keep within bounds, 

 growing so tall and so large that it becomes necessary to 

 prune them severely each year in spring. These plants are 

 nearly hardy, and will occasionally survive in a sheltered 

 corner of a Devonshire garden if planted out against a sunny 

 wall in May ; they are therefore excellent plants for a cool 

 greenhouse, only needing plenty of nourishment to do well 

 there. As they are gross feeding and thirsty plants, they 

 quickly exhaust the soil in a pot, and then drop their leaves 

 and look miserable ; but small specimens can be placed in 

 the border (with rich soil) in May for the summer months, 

 where they will grow strong and be found to be covered 

 with buds in the autumn. Their roots should then be cut 

 round, and raised a few days later, giving them rather large 

 pots and a compost which may be half loam and half hot-bed 

 material, with abundance of water. They will then bloom 

 throughout the winter in a warm conservatory, and can be 

 cut back in May, planting them out again in the border 



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