7 2 THE HOME FLORIST. 



soil of a fertile nature, first soaking the ball of old earth in which they have been growing, and 

 removing all that can be taken off, without mutilating the roots. Water may be freely applied 

 from this time on. During winter the plants should be placed in a light situation, and g^ven 

 sufficient space to enable the air and light to reach all the foliage. Due attention should 

 be paid to pinching back any strong growing shoots, and neat stakes should be provided. 

 They propagate readily from cuttings. The end shoots obtained in pruning back plants after 

 their annual rest, are most suitable for striking, and strong plants can be grown from these by 

 spring, if they are repotted as required during winter. 



Arcadian Prince, deep glowing rosy crimson, slightly penciled with maroon ; an excellent 

 grower and free bloomer. Augusta Odier, an exceedingly rich, carmine- veined variety. Beads- 

 man, pink, maroon spots. B:lle Blonde, white, edged and penciled with carmine, and spotted 

 with maroon. Bianca, shell tinted pink, with dark spots running through crimson to pink, on 

 two petals. Captivation, pure white, with striking spots of dark maroon. Diadematum, bright 

 crimson pink, penciled with maroon. Dr. Andre, blush pink ground, the margins of the petals 

 elegantly fringed. Gen. Taylor, a free flowering carmine pink variety, slightly marked with 

 maroon on two petals; a superb variety. Glorie de Belleview, light, veined crimson, with black- 

 ish maroon spots; fine. James Odier, upper petals white, under shell-tinted with maroon 

 markings. Lavina, pure white, with the lower petals distinctly marked with maroon and edged 

 with crimson. Marksman, white ground, profusely marked and stained with purplish crimson. 

 Madella D'Or, darkest crimson, with darker spots and light center ; exceedingly rich. Mazinella, 

 pink, crimson and maroon. Nor ma, light lilac on white, with dark spots. Sir Casper, light 

 pink, blotched with maroon and crimson. White Lady, a pure white variety, the flowers of 

 which, although freely produced, are rather below the average in size. 



Fig. 52. Double Neapolitan Violets. See page 81. 

 PENSTEMON (Greenhouse Perennial, 30, 43, 75). 



A class of nearly hardy plants suitable for the flower garden and pot culture. They bloom 

 for a long time. The flowers are produced in spikes of Foxglove-like form, very nicely shaded 

 and mottled. Can be taken up in the fall and preserved in a cold-pit or the cool end of a con- 

 servatory or in the cellar during winter. Propagate readily from cuttings. 



PETUNIA (Half-Hardy Annual or Greenhouse Perennial, 33, jo, Sj). 

 For out-door decoration in summer there are few plants that excel this class. They 

 commence to flower early and continue a mass of bloom the whole summer and until after 

 frosts. There are both double and single varieties, the former usually being increased from cut- 

 tings and treated as greenhouse perennials in winter, and the latter as annuals, raising them 

 from seed each spring, although the best of these can also be perpetuated very profitably from 

 cuttings, thus insuring the purity of any desirable strain. Double varieties can also be raised 



