236 WINDOW GARDENING 



can be budded from fruitful trees. The blossoms of the Lemon are smallei 

 than those of the Orange, and they are not as purely white, the under side ol 

 the petals being' tinged with purple. 



Oranges are over a year in ripening, and often remain for two years on the tree. 

 Lemons ripen irregularly, and fall off when ripe. Every six or seven years 

 both orange and lemon trees should be pruned closely. Shorten in the shoots 

 several inches, and they will throw out an abundance of fresh green leaves. 



If they flourish well, they will not need repotting oftener than once in five or 

 six years. Then the mouldy roots, and smallest fibres should be cut back, and 

 the ball of earth well shaken off. Pot in soil of light loam, leaf manure, and 

 two years' old cow manure, equal parts, with a good sprinkling of charcoal dust. 

 Keep in the shade for two or three weeks, and water less frequently than when 

 in flower. It loves the light, but not the hot sun until the fruit is ripening. 



The Sweet Verbena. 



The Sweet Verbena or Aloysa citriodora, is much cultivated for its lemon- 

 scented foliage. Any soil will suit it, but in rich loam it makes a more vigorous 

 growth. 



It is of a deciduous habit, will lose its leaves, and its admirers grieve when 

 they fall, but like the elm and the maple, it buds out afresh in March or April, 

 and from the old wood, cuttings will strike as easily as currant cuttings. 



When its leaves have fallen, it can stand in any dark, cool place where the 

 frost will not touch it, and where the roots can be kept rather dry 



It makes an ornamental standard plant, if trained to a single stem to a height 

 of three feet, and then allowed to branch out in a graceful form. 



The young shoots will strike root in May or June, if planted under glass, and 

 well shaded for awhile. The flowers are borne in large spikes and are very 

 minute, white, but not much esteemed, as the foliage is the most desired part 

 of the plant. Its generally neat appearance always gains much admiration. 

 Trim old plants and repot them in the spring. Root the trimmings in wet 

 sand, under a glass ; then give those young plants a soil of garden earth, vegeta- 

 ble mould and gravel in equal proportions. Set the pots in a garden-bed, plunged 

 to their rims, till September ; then stir the soil often with an old table-fork, 

 water sparingly, giving liquid manure once a week ; take them to the parlor in 

 October, let them have the sun six hours every day, keep the atmosphere 

 moist, and not above 65 by day or 45 by night, and they will flourish wonder- 

 iully. 



Eupatoriums and Stevias. 



By reason of the contrast of their delicate blossoms and graceful foliage, with 

 those of the Geranium, the Eupatorium and Stevias deserves high rank, as 

 popular favorites. The eupatorium gets its name from Eupater, king of Pontus, 

 who first used the plant in medicine. We have many species growing in their 

 native beauty in the lovely mountain passes and valleys of the North, as well as 



