ABU TIL ON — AGAPANTHUS 351 



active the whole year round. The key to the situation is water: 

 at what part of the year to withhold and at what part to apply 

 is one of the very first things to learn (pp. 100, 175, 347). 



Abutilons, or flowering maples as they are often called, make good 

 house plants and bedding plants. Nearly all house gardeners have at 

 least one plant. 



Common abutilons may be grown from seed or from cuttings of 

 young wood. If the former, the seed should be sown in February or 

 March in a temperature of not less than 60°. The seedlings should be 

 potted when about four to six leaves have grown, in a rich sandy soil. 

 Frequent pottings should be made to insure a rapid growth, making 

 plants large enough to flower by fall. Or the seedlings may be planted 

 out in the border when danger of frost is over, and taken up in the fall 

 before frost; these plants will bloom afl winter. About one half of 

 the newer growth should be cut off when they are taken up, as they are 

 very liable to spindle up when grown in the house. When grown from 

 cuttings, young wood should be used, which, after being well rooted, 

 may be treated in the same way as the seedlings. 



The varieties with variegated leaves have been improved until the 

 foliage effects are equal to the flowers of some varieties; and these 

 are a great addition to the conservatory or window garden. The staple 

 spotted-leaved type is A. Thompsoni. A compact form, now much 

 used for bedding and other outdoor work, is Savitzii, which is a horti- 

 cultural variety, not a distinct species. The old-fashioned green- 

 leaved A. striatum, from which A. Thompsoni has probably sprung, is 

 one of the best. A. megapotamicum or vexillanum is a trailing or 

 drooping red-and-yellow-flowered species that is excellent for baskets, 

 although not now much seen. It propagates readily from seed. 

 There is a form with spotted leaves. 



Abutilons are most satisfactory for house plants when they are not 

 much more than a year old. They need no special treatment. 



Agapanthus, or African lily (Agapanthus umbellatus and several 

 varieties). — A tuberous-rooted, well-known conservatory or window 

 plant, blooming in summer. Excellent for porch and yard decora- 

 tion. 



