PAELOR PLANTS. 97 



sand. The reason why azaleas so seldom bloom well iu parlor 

 culture is that care is not taken to ripen the young growth which 

 succeeds the flowers, and in which the buds are formed for the next 

 year's bloom. Unless the air of the room is kept moist, azaleas are 

 apt to drop their foliage. The species, white and purple, are bet- 

 ter for house culture than any of the varieties, and of the varieties 

 those with large foliage succeed better than the fine leaved kinds. 



Camellia. — If the room is kept cool and without furnace heat 

 camellias may be bloomed in the parlor as well as in the green- 

 house. The chief difficulty is the dropping of the flower buds, 

 caused b}' dry, hot air. Do not attempt to force them, give plenty 

 of fresh air on mild days, and there will be a fine spring bloom. 



Orange. — Orange trees, where there is room for them, may be 

 successfully grown ; they require the same general culture as 

 camellias, but will stand more heat. Cleanliness of the leaves and 

 branches is of first importance. They bloom in spring and seldom 

 fail to set and ripen fruit. The Chinese dwarf oranges are easily 

 grown and flower and fruit freely. 



Lemon trees do not flower or fruit as freely as the orange, and 

 are taller growers, and less suited for house culture. 



PiTTOSPORUM. — This old fashioned plant, P. Tohira^ is now very 

 seldom grown. It is, however, to be recommended ; the foliage 

 is hard and coriaceous, well adapted to stand a hot and dry atmos- 

 phere ; the flowers are pretty, freely produced, and deliciously 

 fragrant. It needs but little care, is seldom sickly, and thrives 

 in an}^ exposure. 



Jasmine. — The Indian Jasmine {J. revolutum), is a charming, 

 free flowering species, with rich, dark green foliage, and fragrant 

 yellow flowers. It thrives in the parlor, and well repays the 

 trouble of growing. Soil a light peaty loam, good drainage, and 

 plenty of water. We have seen one plant of this species entirely 

 filling a large bow window, and bearing hundreds of flowers. 



Trop-^olum. — The varieties of Tropceolum minus^ will often 

 make a window very gay with a profusion of bright flowers, in 

 spring. The plants, during autumn and early winter, should 

 have all possible light, and be kept rather dry. They will not grow 

 much until after January ; then, as the days become longer, they 

 will make long shoots with flowers in the axil of every leaf. A 

 pretty mode of growth is to train the shoots back and forth across 

 the window ; the flowers thus show finely from outside. 



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