ANNUALS. 627 



surpassed in delicacy of coloring or delicious fragrance. New 

 and choice varieties are obtained from seed. 



Calceolaria. This flower is admired for its large, beautifully 

 spotted blossoms, which are very showy and profuse. They are 

 grown in pots, in conservatory, greenhouse, and garden. They 

 require a turfy loam, a mixture of peat and sand, or a rich, open, 

 garden mould, and are propagated from seed or cuttings. They 

 are perennial. 



Camellia. Camellias are a hardy, greenhouse shrub, of 

 easy culture, requiring to be protected from frost. The best 

 soil for them is an equal quantity of good sandy loam and peat. 

 They are propagated by cuttings, grafting, and from seed, the lat- 

 ter being the only method of obtaining new varieties. When the 

 plants are growing, they can scarcely receive too much water; at 

 other times use water sparingly. If attention is given to re- 

 moving the potted and growing plants from a warm to a cooler 

 atmosphere, a constant blossoming of flowers may be obtained 

 from autumn till July. When the bud is formed, a cool, shel- 

 tered situation is best, for they will not bear the rays of the sun. 

 This beautiful flower is universally admired, not only for its 

 rose-like blossom, with waxy petals, but also for its dark green, 

 shiny leaves. 



Ageratum. This plant blooms all summer in the garden, 

 and in the greenhouse all winter. Colors, light blue and pure 

 white. Very desirable for bouquets, as it gives a pretty con- 

 trast of colors with more brilliant varieties. Start the seeds 

 under glass, and transplant. It grows one and one-half feet 

 high, and plants should stand two feet apart. It is a hardy 

 annual. 



Abutilon. A greenhouse shrub adapted to house culture, 

 and used for bedding out in summer. There are several varie- 

 ties, whose bell-shaped, drooping flowers blossom abundantly 

 nearly all the year, varying in color from pure white and yellow 

 to deep orange, and crimson streaked with yellow. If seeds are 

 sown under glass before April, the plant will bloom the first 

 season. It can be propagated by cuttings, in sand, under glass, 

 during summer. It is a perennial. 



Pansy. Perhaps more satisfaction can be derived from 

 these ever-blooming flowers, with their brilliancy and durability, 



