70 THE HOME FLORIST. 



NEMOPHILA (Hardy Annual). 



A genus of low growing annuals which afford in the different varieties many peculiar and 

 novel colored flowers, such as white with black spots, white and purple, white blotched 

 with violet, white with chocolate centre, black edged with white, rich maroon margined white, 

 bright blue with white centre, blue blotched with black, and so forth. While interesting, these 

 plants can scarcely be styled showy, although when at their best they are very attractive. 

 A cool partially shaded situation suits them best. The seeds should be sown in frames early 

 in the spring or late the fall previous, in order to secure strong plants by hot weather, as 

 young plants that come on late, never do so well. Transplant to five or six inches apart. 



NIREMBERGIA GRANDIFLORA (Greenhouse Perennial, 33, 45, 90). 

 A valuable plant, either for the flower garden, or in baskets, pots, vases, window boxes, etc. 

 The leaves are small and pointed, flowers pale bluish white, one inch and a half in diameter 

 and salver shaped. They are borne in great abundance all during the summer, and by fall 

 fifty flowers can, almost at any time, be counted on each plant that is growing in the garden. 

 They may be lifted in October without wilting, and will be showy for a long time in the window 

 or conservatory. Any soil will suit them. Propagate from cuttings with some difficulty. 



OLEANDER NERIUM (Greenhouse Perennial, 30, 45, 8f) 



A well known genus of erect growing, evergreen shrubs, with narrow elongated leathery 

 leaves. The plants are well adapted for culture in pots and boxes, for adorning the lawn, or 

 plant collection in summer, as they are easily managed to produce an abundance of bloom. They 

 naturally delight in moist soil, and during their flowering season should at all times be well 

 supplied with water. After they have done blooming, keep rather dry at the roots until spring, 

 storing them during winter in any cool dry place, a light cellar answering very well. Early 

 winter is the most suitable time for pruning the plants, which may be done quite severely to 

 their benefit. The young shoots can be cut back to within two buds of the old wood. In 

 March they should be shifted into larger pots or boxes and a new growth encouraged by an 

 increase of water. Decayed turfy loam, with one-fourth part old rotten manure, forms an excel- 

 lent compost for them. As the plants advance in growth, a weekly watering of liquid manure, 

 not very strong, will heighten the size and beauty of the flowers ; during their approaching sea- 

 son of bloom, keep a sharp look-out for scale insects on the leaves and bark and remove them 

 by washing. Scrubbing affected parts with tobacco water heated to 100 and afterwards with 

 soap and water will completely destroy them if it is thoroughly done. The Oleander is easily 

 propagated from cuttings of the young growth in spring and summer. A favorite and time- 

 honored method of proceeding with this, is by placing the cutting in a bottle of water suspended 

 in the window or under the piazza; this means is quite similar to the saucer system of propaga- 

 tion described on page 16, and in the case of this plant is perhaps quite as good a one. Imme- 

 diately as the roots appear, the cutting should be potted and receive an abundance of water 

 until it becomes rooted in the soil. 



Alba Plena is a semi-double pure white variety, not so commonly cultivated as Splendens, 

 but nevertheless very desirable. Splendens i^ a very beautiful variety with double, rose colored 

 flowers, which render it highly esteemed by all cultivators. Yellow, a single pale yellow 

 variety, which is useful for affording a greater diversity of colors. 



ORANGE AND LEMON CITRUS (Greenhouse Perennials, 32, 45 to tf, 90). 

 These well known fruits of commerce both belong to the genus Citrus, and are quite identi- 

 cal in many respects. The genus comprises a great number of kinds and varieties, some of 

 which are known as wild and others as cultivated, the former possessing little value, except as 

 stocks upon which to graft the better sorts. Both the Orange and Lemon can easily be culti- 

 vated in pots in the North, and form attractive plants when in health with their rich glossy 

 leaves which are also pleasantly fragrant if chafed. Under favorable circumstances they may 

 be had to flower and fruit in the window or conservatory, and if the stocks be grafted with the 

 improved varieties the fruit produced will be edible, although such varieties are always more 

 difficult to cultivate than the stronger growing plants produced from seed. The flowers of the 

 Orange are noted for their sweetness and pure white color in some of the kinds. There are 

 beautiful dwarf growing varieties of' the Orange, which are known as the Chinese Lhvarf, 

 that are very suitable for cultivation, : being of good habit and producing fruit freely, which, 

 although not edible, renders the plant highly ornamental. These can be perpetuated by cuttings, 

 thus allowing of their purity being maintained to any extent. The genus loves a rich soil, and 

 one containing a fair proportion of well decayed turf, taken up from a loamy soil, will suit it as 

 well as any. For young plants, it may contain a portion of sand until they arrive at a fruiting 

 age. The months of March, and also August, are suitable times for repotting the plants, which 

 may also be pruned at the same time. All stunted or straggling shoots should be well cut back 

 and a general system of pruning be adopted to effect a well shaped head. The Lemon especi- 

 ally, is greatly inclined to irregularity of growth. All the varieties of the Citrus tribe are shade- 

 loving plants, and should, therefore, be protected from the full glare of sunshine in midsum- 

 mer, but throughout winter they should have all the daylight that can be secured for them. The 

 foliage and branches should also receive an occasional cleansing with water and sponge, and 

 insects of no kind must be tolerated. 



