FLOBICULTURE. 403 



must be watered, taking care to pour the water cautiously, bo as not to de- 

 tach the plants. If glazed or metal vases be used, glass bottles, for in- 

 stance, they must be constantly watered; the water should be poured Irom 

 the top over all, so that, in descending, it wets aU parts of the cloth, which 

 should always be damp. Whenever the plants droop they must be refreshed 

 by wateringthem carefully. The vase should stand in a saucer or plate. 



The seeds used should be very fine, and especially Ught and of easy and 

 quick gennination. The common garden cress is most stiitable from its 

 great rapidity of growth, the easy and very quick germination of its seeds, 

 and also on account of the Uttlo nourishment the plant requiK«; but it has 

 several drawbacks; first, it has a tendency to sink more or less, then to have 

 gaps, to show flowers very quickly and then to wither away. The common 

 ryegrass is abjo suitable, but experiments with other seeds may be made. 

 We ought to multiply and vary the experiments until satisfactory results are 

 obtained. The following kinds of plants might prove suitable: Crested 

 Dog's-tail Grass, White Clover, Yellow Clover (Me<I'ian<> l>ipt<lit,<i), Tlnn, hut 

 particularly the Timothy Grass {Phleum j)ialeuse), which appears to be sin- 

 gularly appropriate for this mode of omamentatioa. Let our readers experi- 

 ment 



How to Grow Smilax. — Smilax is an exceedingly graceful vine, with 

 glossy, green-ribbed leaves, and is now more extensively used than any 

 other plant for decorating parlors, the hair, and for trimming dresses. With 

 a Uttle care it can be grown successfully as a house plant. Tlie vine does 

 not require the full sun, but will grow well in a partially shaded situation. 

 It can be trained on a small thread across the window or around the pic- 

 tures. Grown from both seeds and bulbs. Pot the bnlbe as soon as re- 

 ceived, watering but little until you see signs of growth. They grow very 

 rapidly and should always have strings to twine on. Give plenty of fresh 

 air, but be careful and not let a direct draft of cold air blow ui>)n the vines, 

 as they are very tender when young. Give them a warm place and they will 

 amply repay all care. When gro>vth is complete the fobage ^vill turn yellow. 

 Then gradually withhold water and allow the bulbs to drj-. They then can 

 be put in some cool, dry place. After they have been in this dormant state 

 six or eight weeks they will begin to show signs of life, and then are ready 

 for another season's growth. 



Ferns In the House, — I should Uke to say to the person who wishes to 

 know what ferns can be grown in the house, that I have bad for three win- 

 ters, in a ftimace heated parlor, very handsome plants of Aspidium moUo 

 and Adiautum cuneatum; and I have a friend who has iHeris trenmla, lo«»k- 

 ing as well as it could in a greenhouse. I also know that PterLs liastata does 

 well in the house; so does the Japanese climbing fern and Lygodinm ucau- 

 dons. All require to be kept comfortably warm, not too wet, and seldf>m 

 sprinkled -just often enough to keep them clean. I have fotind that wet- 

 ting the foliage often causes it to turn black. 



To Kf^ep Geraniums tlircngh the 'Winter. — Those who have no 

 place in their greenhouses for geraniums, etc., will do well to put them in 

 a window with a south aspect, carefully covering the pots with a little straw, 

 or moss, in order to prevent the frost from hurting the roots. Or take them 

 from the pots and hang them up by the roots in a dark place, where the 

 frost cannot touch them; if planted again in the spring they will shoot and 

 flourish remarkably well. 



