Parlor-Plants. 3^9 



The great objection to this plant for the parlor is, that its season of 

 bloom is the summer ; but, on large plants, flowers are often produced for 

 six consecutive months : so, if we wish summer-bloom, we can find no better 

 plant. The foliage is ornamental at all seasons. The variety w ith varie- 

 gated leaves is a charming plant, and a picture of beauty every month in 

 the year. The other species, some of which are magnificent in growth and 

 flower, cannot be grown successfully as parlor-plants. 



An old-fashioned plant, neglected, homely if you please, withal, is the 

 Pittosporum ; yet, nev^ertheless, it has great merit as a house-plant. Neglect 

 it as much as you may, it will flower ; and, although the blossoms are not 

 showy, — being of a dirty white when they first expand, and gradually 

 changing to yellow, — they are very fragrant, and freely produced. 



The common species is P. Tobira ; but we occasionally meet with P. ja- 

 ponicum, which has larger flowers, and very handsome, glossy foliage. All 

 the species (there are about twenty) are suitable for parlor-culture. 



They do well in a mixture of peat and loam, and require no care except 

 to be regularly watered and to be kept clean. 



Next we have a plant well known and common, but seldom seen in gooa 

 condition in the parlor. Few of our readers know the capabilities of the 

 Heliotrope, or have an idea of what can be made of it with careful culture. 



We see them in eight-inch pots, producing a few clusters of pretty, fra- 

 grant flowers. 



We should have them in large tubs, trained six feet high, and bearing a 

 hundred trusses of bloom. There must, however, be a day of small things; 

 and we must begin with a small plant. 



The species should be the common H. corymboswn, although the same 

 treatment will give us fine plants of the varieties. 



We must not, however, take any of the dwarfs or weak-growers ; and we 

 select corymbosum as being a good grower, and easy to obtain. 



Let the plant be young, and in vigorous growth ; give it plenty of sun, 

 air, and water ; and, as soon as the roots touch the sides of the pot, give it 

 a shift into a size larger, disturbing the roots as little as possible; and 

 continue this treatment until we have the plant in a tub two feet in diame- 

 ter. Carefully pinch out any bloom as soon as it appears, and train the 

 strongest shoot as an upright for the main stem of the plant ; tying the 



