154 Parlor-Plants. 



to deep scarlet, have very long petals, and are generally deliciously fra- 

 grant. 



C. Atkinsi is a beautiful hybrid between C. Persicum and county with scent- 

 less flowers of various shades of white and red : it is a winter-bloomer, 

 but does not thrive as well with parlor-culture as C. Persicum. 



The soil for cyclamen should be a mixture of leaf-mould and sharp sand, 

 with the addition of a little peat and turfy loam, if they can be procured. 

 These should be well mixed, but not made very fine. Pot the bulbs, in 

 September or October, in pots about three times the diameter of the bulb, 

 with good drainage, so that the crown of the bulb will be just above the 

 surface of the soil. Water, and place the pots in a warm place, keeping 

 the soil only damp until growdi begins. Then place them in a sunny win- 

 dow, and give plenty of light and air ; being careful never to let them flag 

 for want of water. They will soon show bloom. After the blossoms 

 have faded, remove the seed-vessels (unless seed is wanted) ; and, when the 

 foliage begins to fade, gradually withhold water, and after a few weeks give 

 none at all. Place the pots out of direct sunshine, but never allow the 

 bulb to shrivel. 



A good plan is to bur)^ the pots in the open ground in the summer, cov- 

 ering them about a foot deep : the bulbs come out in the autumn plump 

 and sound, in the best condition for an early start. Cyclamen are prop- 

 agated by seed, which should be sown about February, and which, with 

 ordinary culture of drying off each summer, bloom the third year ; but 

 they may be forced on so as to bloom in half that time by shortening the 

 season of rest. 



Could we have but one window-plant, we should choose a cyclamen. 



There is no more fragrant flower than the Mahernia, and it is well adapted 

 for window-culture. All the species, of which there are more than a dozen, 

 are pretty, low shrubs, natives of the Cape of Good Hope. 



They have all been long in cultivation, and are favorite inmates of our 

 greenhouses. 



The most common species is that ordinarily called ^^. oJorata, but more 

 properly J/, glahraia, which is a favorite with florists, from the delicacy of 

 its fragrant yellow flowers. This plant thrives well and blooms profusely 

 under window-culture, scenting the whole room when in bloom. The soil 



