168 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



which throws up tall, slender flower stems, crowned with a cluster 

 of pale blue blossoms, in winter, and may be had in bloom at 

 Christmas in a warm greenhouse. The leaf Coleuses are well 

 worth growing for greenhouse decoration in summer, as their 

 tints are very bright. They thrive in normal soil, and may be 

 propagated either by seed or cuttings. The young plants should 

 be stopped by nipping off the top when a few inches high, and 

 the side shoots resulting stopped again. This has the effect of 

 making them bushy. 



Cyclamen. There is no more beautiful greenhouse plant than 

 the Persian Cyclamen, which produces its lovely flowers during 

 winter, and may be had in bloom at Christmas. The reader 

 doubtless knows the plant, with its fleshy, heart-shaped, marbled 

 leaves standing in a thick, flattish cluster a few inches above the 

 soil, and its graceful flowers hung like reversed bells on succulent 

 stems. The coloured plate shows the plant well. In the grandi- 

 florum (large-flowered) class the blooms are nearly double the size 

 of the ordinary persicum. There is also a section with fringed 

 edges, that is both distinct and beautiful. The pure white variety 

 is one of the most valued, but a rich crimson is also very popular. 

 There are other colours. The Cyclamens thrive in the normal 

 mixture. Propagation is effected by means of seeds, which are 

 sown in summer and early autumn for flowering in the autumn 

 and winter of the following year. The plant forms a tuber, 

 technically called a " corm." They grow slowly in the seedling 

 stage, but fairly rapidly throughout the summer if abundance of 

 moisture is provided. They enjoy humidity in the atmosphere as 

 well as at the roots indeed, without both they will progress but 

 slowly. The plants can be preserved for several years if required. 

 The old school of growers used to dry them off, but some of the 

 most successful modern cultivators keep them growing constantly. 

 Others do not preserve the plants in any state, but raise fresh 

 ones from seed every year. These growers do not develop such 



