286 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTUKIST. 



Our three lilacs, the common, Syr- 

 inga vuh/aris ; Persian, S. Persica, 

 and the Josikea, S. Josikcea, are hardj 

 and satisfactory. The latter is to be 

 recommended Ijecaiise it blossoms three 

 or four weeks later than the other sorts. 



Tamarix gallica, Tamarisk, was in- 

 jured last winter. Hitherto it had 

 stood well. 



The chaste little Deutzia gracilis, 

 with some protection of leaves, is very 

 desirable. 



Fi-om Spiroea triloba we get onr most 

 profuse white flowers. 



Attempts at Rhododendron culture 

 have so far proved unsatisfactory. 



Doiible-jiuwering Almond was in- 

 jured last winter. 



The Mock Orange, Philadelphus 

 coronayius, is always hardy. 



The Rose Acacia, Robinia hispida, is 

 hardy and very attracti\ e. 



The Missouri or Buffalo Currant, 

 Ribes aureum, is haixly and popular. 

 It is often sold by nurserymen under 

 the name of Ribes fragrans. 



The Japanese Quince is not hardy. 



[We take the above from a bulletin . 

 of the Agricultural College of Michi- 

 gan, dated October, I 685 ] 



PLANTS FOR LIVING ROOMS. 



Many people, both in city and coim- 

 try, keep plants in their rooms, and not 

 a few grow them thei'e from one year's 

 end to the other. Of course, plants do 

 not thrive as well in dwelling-rooms as 

 in green-houses, and a common impres- 

 sion exists that gas is particularly ob- 

 noxious to them — that is, gas light. 

 The heat-drying effect of the gas flame 

 no doubt affects plants, but not to the 

 extent that it is supposed to ;. anyhow 

 not much more than a lamp or stove 

 would. This evil effect may be reme- 

 died, to a very great extent, by setting 

 the plants on saucers inverted into 

 others of larger size, and keeping these 



large saucers constantly full of water. 

 This will gradually evaporate and keep 

 the air around the plants in a moist 

 condition, sufficient to counteract the 

 evil effects of gas or stove heat. The 

 inverted saucers shoidd be large enough 

 so that the base of the pot in which 

 the plants are growing does not actu- 

 ally stand in the water, although occa- 

 sionally this is beneficial to the i)lant, 

 especially when much drainage has 

 been used. Maiden Hair Ferns, Aca- 

 cias, and Primulas do first rate under 

 these cii'cumstances. Also the beauti- 

 ful-leaved Marantas, if kept warm 

 enough during winter. What really 

 destroys room plants is mismanagement 

 and want of light and air. Few plants 

 will thrive long unless tliey have both. 

 But where there is plenty of both, 

 almost anything may be made to grow 

 and blossom beautifully. Geraniums, 

 Fuchsias, Begonias, Gloxinias, and 

 Abutilons will all give an abundance 

 of flowers, and what is more, these will 

 not be infested by insects, as Roses and 

 Chrysanthennims would be. If flow- 

 ers are not an object, we would suggest 

 Aspidisira lurida variegata, Maran- 

 tas, Ferns, the beautiful Sanseveria 

 metallica, Ficus elastica, Areca lutes- 

 cens, or almost any palm. Even small 

 Agaves look nice, and if kept in rather 

 small pots they will not outgrow your 

 window-sill very soon. Mentioning 

 Agaves reminds us of Cacti. These 

 are the plants just suitable for room- 

 culture j neither gas light nor fire heat 

 will hurt them. In fact, they will not 

 require any heat at all during winter, 

 providing frost is excluded. If flowers 

 are expected from them in spring, they 

 should have plenty of sun during win- 

 ter, but they will not want any water 

 except once in two weeks. Of course 

 you do not expect these to grow during 

 winter, as this is their season of rest, 

 excepting, however, the Crab Cactus or 

 Ejiiphyllums, which, with good man- 



