PAKLOR PLANTS. 95 



species the flowers are pink, but in the many varieties, all of which 

 do equally well, we have many shades of red and violet, and 

 some dazzlingly beautiful flowers. The best are Russelliatmm^ 

 violaceum, tricolor, salmonevm album, and cruentum; but all are 

 good and worth growing. 



OxALis. — Of this charming family all the species commonly 

 found in greenhouses may be well gi'own in the parlor. They 

 should be started into growth in the room and not taken from a 

 greenhouse. The foliage of most is neat and clover-like, and that 

 of some beautifully cut. The flowers are pink, white, and yellow. 



0. versicolor is a very pretty basket plant, beautiful in foliage, 

 bud, and flower. 



The common yellow species (Ocernua) is very fragrant and free 

 blooming. 



0. luxula and the variety alba have large pink or white flowers. 



0. floribunda, both pink and white, is never out of bloom, win- 

 ter or summer. Soil, rich and light, plenty of water when growing, 

 gradually lessening the supply as the plants dry off", and perfect 

 rest in summer until the time comes for repotting and growth. 



TiiiTELEiA. — This little hardy bulb (T. unijiora) gives plenty of 

 flower in a sunny window. Treat the bulbs as prescribed for 

 Oxalis. The flower varies from pearly white to blue, and con- 

 tinues long in beauty. The odor of garlic which pervades the 

 plant is not perceived unless the blossoms are gathered. Bulbs 

 cost onl}'- a few cents each. It is one of the best and most 

 easily grown window plants. 



Chinese Primrose. — A plant of easy culture, very free bloom- 

 ing, never infested with insects, and always beautiful. 



Young plants raised from spring sown seed will make large 

 blooming plants by autumn. The soil should be rich and light, 

 and the plants should have as much sun as possible. The same 

 plant will bloom from November to May, — indeed a fault of the 

 plant, if fault it has, is that it often blooms itself to death. 

 The double varieties are not as desirable as the single for house 

 culture, and the fern leaved kinds, although elegant in foliage, 

 possess no remarkable blooming qualities. This primrose is one 

 of the best of window plants. 



Pinks. — Many of the monthly pinks do well in the parlor. 

 The plants should be lifted from the ground in September, and 

 grown in a light airy room. They will not bloom freely until after 



