WINDOW GARDENING 235 



rich it will grow too tall to form a handsome shaped tree. Ordinary garden 

 soil loosened with sand will answer. If the air of the room it occupies is too 

 close and hot, it will not bloom, so give it air frequently, shielding it from 

 draughts as you would a geranium, and water it well. 



It grows easily from cuttings ; prune in spring, and root the best of these 

 prunings in wet sand to get new plants. 



Abutilon striatum is hardly ever out of flower; its bells are of a golden 

 yellow, veined with brown, and they are very graceful and lovely. 



Abutilon venosa has larger flowers, with deep red veins, and is very hand- 

 some. 



A Marmaratum is a charming hybrid, blossoming all the year, and producing 

 white flowers, marbled and veined with rose. 



A Mesopotanicum is a species which differs in the shape of both flowers and 

 leaves. The calyx being scarlet, with golden yellow petals, the flowers beauti- 

 fully marked; they hang in regular rows down the flexible branches, and are 

 very valuable for cut flowers. 



A Thompsonii is another distinct variety with variegated leaves, its leaves 

 being mosaiced with yellow. 



A Santana is a new plant with flower bells of a much larger size, and of dark 

 brownish crimsom, veined with orange color; it is the darkest sort cultivated. 



A album is pure white, and very much admired. 



The Orange. 



Small orange trees are very desirable window plants, on account of their ex- 

 quisitely fragrant flowers, and beautiful evergreen foliage which contrasts finely 

 with other plants. The prettiest for house culture are the dwarf varieties, and 

 the dwarf Mandarin or China orange bears excellent fruit. The dwarf Otaheite 

 is a more common kind, but not as suitable ; for neither its flowers nor fruit equal 

 those of the Mandarin. 



Early in the eighteenth century, orange trees were quite the fashion for house 

 culture, and although the fashion has passed away, there are few plants that still 

 combine so much perfection in foliage, fruit and flower. 



Oranges are usually raised from seed, and in a year or two, grafted from a fine 

 variety. Seeds sprout readily in any light loam, but the orange blooms the 

 finest in good rich soil, and requires liquid manure once in a fortnight or even 

 oftener. The foliage is handsomer, if the pot stands a little away from the full 

 noonday sun. 



The Lemon. 



The Lemon belongs to the same genus as the Orange viz.: the Citrus, to which 

 also belong limes, shaddocks and citrons; all the species are characterized by 

 fragrant flowers, glossy evergreen leaves, and delicious fruits. 



The golden apples of the Hesperides are supposed to belong to this family. 



Fine trees are raised from seeds, and when the shoots are two years old they 



