PVRKTIIUUM, IMrATIF.NS, I.AXTANA 69 



it is one that you will not like to be without, after 

 having once jjrown it. It is a most cheerful looking 

 little plant, hcinc: almost always covered with its bright 

 matjenta-colored blossoms, which contrast charmingly 

 with the rich, smootli, shining foliage. Its stalks have 

 an almost transparent look when you hold them 

 between the eye and the sun. It is not particular about 

 having much sunshine; indeed, I am inclined to think 

 it blooms host in a shaded place. It grows to be about 

 a foot high, and perhaps a foot and a half across, 

 branching freely. Its flowers are shaped very much 

 like the •'Id sin5.;le Balsam or Lady Slipper, but are 

 considerably smaller, and do not hug the stalk or hide 

 among the foliage as those flowers used to. It likes 

 a light, open soil with plenty of inoisture at the roots, 

 and a daily bath for its foliage. Unless the latter 

 is given the red spider injures it. When a plant begins 

 to be exhausted you will find it dropping apart at its 

 joints. It seeds freely, and you will generally find 

 plenty of young seedlings coming up about the old 

 plant. It comes into bloom in two or three months 

 from the seed. 



The Laiitana 



This old plant has held its own against all new- 

 comers, and is as popular to-day as it was years ago. 

 And its popularity as a plant for sitting room culture 

 is well deserved. It will flourisli where nothing else 

 but a Geranium would look cheerful, and it will stand 

 all kinds of abuse and neglect. But, because it will 

 do this, I would not advise abusing or neglecting it. 

 Give it good care and let it do its best. It is not at 

 all jiarticular about the soil it gets to grow in, if it 

 is only moderately rich. It likes plenty of sunshine, 

 and a moderate amount of water. It will stand any 

 amount of pinching and pruning, and can be made 



