IN MY LADY'S GARDEN 



The tops then removed will strike root readily in a shady 

 corner of the greenhouse. Abutilon Swavitzi is usually 

 grown for the beauty of its foliage, which is variegated with 

 white ; A. igneum is a handsome dwarf variety with deep 

 red flowers, and A. vexillarium is still smaller, a pretty little 

 plant, with tassel-like blossoms in red, yellow, and white, 

 and variegated foliage. A hardy abutilon, which does well 

 in the garden, is A. vitifolium, with glaucous foliage and 

 white flowers 4 inches across ; in the shelter of a south wall 

 this plant will probably do well in any part of England, and 

 it is handsome and distinct, growing to the height of 6 feet 

 or more. All the abutilons can be raised from seed in a 

 hot-bed in spring, but the last-named species should not be 

 planted out until the following year in May. 



Another member of the great mallow family (Malvaceae), 

 Hibiscus sinensis, is still more magnificent, with flowers 

 in the richest carmine, apricot, pink, crimson, &c., about 

 7 inches across, and of most elegant shape. These plants 

 need more warmth than the abutilons, especially if they are 

 to blossom in winter ; but in a minimum temperature of 55 

 they will open their splendid blossoms all through the year, 

 even small plants being extremely floriferous. Hibiscus 

 sinensis lutea is in rich apricot, with a deep crimson 

 star in the centre, and is most beautiful, but not so free 

 flowering. These plants, coming as they do from India 

 and the warmer parts of China, should have warmth all the 

 year round, with constant attention to the danger of blights, 

 which may make the buds drop. Syringing with warm 

 water, sponging, and vaporising will, however, keep these 

 enemies at bay, and the plants should be repotted in 

 February or March, giving them a rich ordinary compost. 



Another uncommon and beautiful plant is the crimson 

 bottle-brush of Australia (Callistemon speciosus), which 

 blooms with warmth at the same time it is accustomed to 

 do so in Australia, i.e., in the middle of our winter. The 

 brilliant carmine bottle-brushes, dipped in gold dust, which 

 it produces at the points of the shoots, are very decorative, 

 especially so when the plant is a small one. This shrub 



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