1608 



HOTTONIA 



HOUSE PLANTS 



5 petals, but actually with a short corolla-tube below 

 the lobes; stamens 5, inserted on the tube of the corolla: 

 caps, subglobose, with 5 lateral valves; seeds numer- 

 ous. — The plants root in the mud or float, and the fls. 

 are about J-iin. diam. 



inilata, Ell., the American plant, has spongy sts. and 

 clustered peduncles, which are partly above water, 

 inflated, jointed, the lowest joint 2-4 in. long and some- 

 times 1 in. thick, the others 1-3 in number and suc- 

 cessively sliorter: fls. white in whorls of 2-10 at the 

 joints. B.B. 2:586. — Neither species is advertised. 

 Like all aquarium plants, they are interesting, but they 

 have no horticultural value otherwise. Both plants are 

 called fcatherfoil and water -violet; the American 

 also water-feather and water-yarrow. The European 

 species has dimorphic fls., after the manner of Primula. 

 The earUer fls. in the American species are cleistoga- 

 raous. L. H. B. 



HOULLETIA (after HouUet, French gardener). 

 Orchidacese. Epiphytic, pseudobulbous orchids, allied 

 to Stanhopea, and blooming in summer. 



Pseudobulbs conical, 1-lvd.: Ivs. lanceolate, plicate: 

 sepals and petals usually nearly equal; labellum con- 

 tinuous with the clavate, arcuate column; pollinia 2, 

 on a long caudicle. — About 8 species from S. Amer. 



odoratissima, Lind. Sepals and petals reddish 

 brown; labellum white, with 2 crimson appendages 

 midway of its length. Colombia. G.C. II. 24:777. 

 CO. 1. Var. antioquensis, Andre {H. aniioquensis, 

 Hort.), has labellum white, tinged yellow. I.H. 17:12. 



Brocklehurstiana, Lindl. Fls. 5-8, about 3 in. across, 

 brownish red, dotted with brown-purple; sepals oblong, 

 obtuse, the lateral ones sUghtly united at base; petals 

 narrower, obovate; labellum yellow, thickly dotted with 

 brown-purple; from its lower half 2 hnear appendages 

 have their origin. Brazil. B.M. 4072. P.M. 9:49. 

 R.H. 1885:492. 



picta, Lind. & Reiohb. f. Fls. 6-10; sepals oblong, 

 brownish, unspotted above, tessellated with yellow 

 below; petals similarly colored; labellum yellow, spotted 

 or dotted with brown-purple or red-purple, the end has- 

 tate; apex recurved, pale yeUow veined with crimson. 

 Colombia. B.M. 6305. 



Wallisii, Lind. & Reichb. f. {H. chrysdntha, Lind. 



6 Andre). Fls. about 2 in. across; sepals and petals 

 yellow, blotched inside with brown-purple; labellum 

 yellow, dotted with crimson. Colombia. G.C. II. 

 18:4.37; III. 50:177. G.M. 54:661. J.H. III. 63:315. 

 I.H. 18:71. 



H. Sdnderi, Rolfe. Raceme 2-3-fld.; fls. large, pale yellow; 

 sepals about 1}4 in- long, the dorsal elliptic, the lateral broadly 

 ovate; petals broader, nearly orbicular, about as long as sepals. 

 Peru. B.M. 8346. QakES AmeS. 



George V. NASH.f 

 HOUSE PLANTS (Figs. 1917-1919) are those plants 

 that can be grown in the ordinary rooms of dwelling- 

 houses. They may be hardy or tender; only such as are 

 suitable for this purpose will be considered here. 



In the Uving-rooms of the modern well-built house, 

 plants must contend against difficulties which did not 

 exist in the less carefuUy equipped dwellings of fifty 

 years ago or earher. The present methods of heating 

 and lighting, by gas or kerosene lamps, not electricity, 

 produce a dry atmosphere which is inimical to vegetable 

 growth. In houses lighted by electricity, and heated by 

 any system which introduces fresh air in abundance, 

 the hindrance is not so troublesome. Too much heat 

 and dry air are harder for plants to endure than insuf- 

 ficient hght, but it is also lack of light which makes it 

 difficult to grow flowering plants in houses. Dust and 

 insects do harm, but can be checked. 



For the above reasons it is important to choose 

 house plants which are adapted to resist a dry atmos- 

 phere, a high temperature and inadequate light. Such 



examples can be found among certain tropical plants 

 with coriaceous leaves and small stomata, what the 

 florists call foliage plants, e. g., rubber trees, palms, 

 and the like. These make the best foundation upon 

 which any successful system of growing plants in houses 

 can be built. Flowering plants can also be used, but 

 they should be introduced from time to time, each in 

 its proper season, when about to bloom or in bloom, 



I 



1917. Pot-plants in the window. 



and not considered a part of the permanent arrange- 

 ment. After flowering they should be removed: their 

 function is not unlike the use of cut-flowers, but they 

 last longer and are not more expensive, while they 

 largely increase the attraction of the window-garden. 



The best rooms for plants are those which get the 

 most sun, and the best positions are those nearest the 

 windows, where there is not only more light but more 

 fresh air. A large palm, fern or rubber will grow in an 

 entry or poorly hghted corner, but the best place is that 

 which is best hghted. Plants do well in a kitchen, the 

 moisture from the cooking helping them materially; it 

 is by no means a bad hospital for unhealthy specimens. 



A conservatory is desirable but not always obtain- 

 able on account of the expense; it should agree with the 

 architecture of the house and have the proper aspect. 

 The construction should be durable, the walls and roof 

 low and, a point often neglected, great attention should 

 be paid to ventilation. This should be given not only 

 in the roof, the very apex when possible, but also on 

 the sides at the bottom. The trouble comes in early 

 autumn when the plants are first potted up and again 

 when the sun begins to be hotter in February, March 

 and April. Fresh air should be given aU winter on 

 bright days, but it is particularly needed at the times 

 named above. Shade is also advisable on warm sunny 

 days and a system of screens either inside or out can be 

 devised. The florists' method of painting the glass is 

 good but unsightly. When a regular conservatory is 

 unobtainable, a plantroom can sometimes be made which 

 js most satisfactory and at comparatively small cost. 

 It is often possible to utilize a part of the basement 

 for such purpose. A southeast or south exposure is 

 best, but if it faces southwest or even west no trouble 

 follows. Such a room should be well furnished with 

 windows which open both at top and bottom. The 

 floor should be of concrete or porous tile and the walls 

 covered with material which is unharmed by water; 



