242 PRACTICAL PLOBICULTUKK. 



CHAPTER XL. 



WHAT FLOWERS WILL GROW IN THE SHADE ? 



The question " What flowers will grow in the shade ? " 

 is put to me every spring by scores of city people, whose 

 little patch which they wish to devote to flowers is so 

 walled up by neighboring houses, that the direct rays of 

 the sun never touch it. But few plants will develop their 

 flowers there, and none will do it so well as if it were 

 lighted up by sunshine a part of the day. Fuchsias, Pan- 

 sies, Forget-me-nots, Violets, Lobelias, Lily of the Valley, 

 Phloxes, and other herbaceous plants whose native habitat 

 is a shady wood, will do best, but even these languish if 

 denied all direct sunlight. The best effect in such situa- 

 tions is produced by ornamental-leaved plants, the beauty 

 of which is not dependent upon their flowers. Among 

 these may be ranked the Gold and Silver Variegated- 

 leaved Geraniums, Achyranthes, Alternantheras, Begonias, 

 Caladiums, Centaureas, Coleuses, etc., which, if planted 

 so as to bring the various shades in contrast, produce a 

 pleasing effect, which continues during the entire summer 

 months, and is not surpassed by any display of flowers. 



The cultivator of flowers in rooms should understand 

 the necessity of sunlight to plants that are to flower, and 

 endeavor to get these as close as possible to a window 

 having an eastern or southern aspect. The higher the 

 temperature the more plants suffer for want of light. 

 Many plants might remain in a temperature of 40, in a 

 cellar for example, away from direct light, for months 

 without material injury, while if the cellar contained a 

 furnace keeping a temperature of 70, they would all die; 



