Gardening for Amateurs 



717 



flowering Carnations are admired by every- 

 one, and the earlier Cyclamen and Primulas 

 are always welcome. The Paper White 

 Narcissi and Roman Hyacinths may readily 

 be had in bloom before Christmas, while 

 not long after come the Freesias, of which 

 the delicious perfume has helped to make 

 them such universal favourites. The winter 

 Heath (Erica hyemalis) and the small- 

 flowered Erica gracilis are also at their best, 

 while the bright red berries of the so-called 

 Winter Cherry (Solanum capsicastrum) form 

 a very showy feature. The white Indian 

 Azalea Deutsche Perle may also be had in 

 bloom by the end of the year. This list is 

 by no means exhaustive, but serves to call 

 attention to a few of the principal winter 

 flowers in the greenhouse. Watering needs 

 to be more carefuUy done than at any other 

 season, for many plants, if not actually 

 dormant, are at least in a fairly quiescent 

 state, so that less water is needed than 

 when they are in full growth. Atmospheric 

 moisture, too, should be considerably less- 

 ened. As sharp frosts sometimes come un- 

 awares, some of the plants may get frozen, 

 the pipes must not then be made hot in 

 order to drive the frost out at once, as 

 this sudden change will cause damage. If 

 the frost is sufficient to affect the plants, 

 the house should be shaded in fact, dark- 

 ened and the pipes made only slightly 

 warm. In this way the effect of the frost 

 graduaUy disappears, and little or no per- 

 manent damage ensues. 



The following descriptive list contains all 

 the perennial plants commonly grown in 

 greenhouses for the sake of their flowers. 

 Others, such as bulbs, annuals, climbers, etc., 

 are treated separately. 



Abutilon. A delightful free - flowering 

 class of shrubby plants which bloom from 

 spring until autumn. The flowers are bell 

 shaped, drooping, and in the different varie- 

 ties show a wide range of colour. A selection 

 of the best includes Anna Crozy, purple ; 

 Boule de Neige, white ; Future Fame, 

 crimson ; Golden Fleece, yellow ; Royal 

 Scarlet, bright red ; and Sanglant, deep red. 

 Abutilon vexillarium variegatum is a slender- 

 growing climber, of which the leaves are 

 marbled with gold ; the small, drooping red 

 and yellow flowers are usually borne in pro- 





Abutilon cuttings in pot beneath 

 bell glass. 



Making an Abutilon cutting. 



