POTTED FLOWERING PLANTS 357 



and become unsightly. They grow best in a night tem- 

 perature of about 50. The crop of berries will remain 

 on the plant for more than a year if the plants are grown 

 in a cool temperature, and frequently two crops of ripe 

 berries may be seen on the same plant. During the fall, 

 the plants should be exposed to full sunlight, and turned 

 slightly from time to time so that the growth will be 

 symmetrical. 



SOLANTJMS OR JERUSALEM CHERRIES 



553. Botanical classification. Order, Solanaceae ; 

 genus, Solanum ; species : Pseudo-Capsicum, Capsicastrum. 



554. Botanical characters. Solanums are low, 

 shrub-like annual plants, with shiny green leaves, and 

 small white flowers, which are followed by large scarlet 

 or yellow fruits. 



Habitat. Tropics. 



555. Commercial value. Solanums are in consider- 

 able demand as potted-plants for Christmas sale. They 

 are easily grown but are less attractive then ardisias, both 

 as to habit of growth and color of fruit. 



556. Propagation. The seeds of solanums should be 

 sown in January in order to have the fruits well advanced 

 before Christmas. 



557. Culture. By the first of June, they should be in 

 four-inch pots, and may then be planted in open ground, 

 and given careful cultivation throughout the summer. 

 By the last of August, they may be lifted, and planted in 

 a five- or six-inch pot, in soil consisting of three parts fibrous 

 loam and one part well-rotted cow manure. Careful 

 attention should be given to drainage, for the plants are 

 injured by too much water in the soil. For a few days 



