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Gardening for Amateurs 



Nerium Oleander. Popularly known as 

 the Oleander, this is a very desirable ever- 

 green shrub for the greenhouse or conserva- 

 tory. It is of loose Willow-like growth, and 

 the large rose-coloured blossoms are borne in 

 terminal spikes during the summer months. 

 There are many varieties, varying from 

 white to red, some with single and some with 

 double flowers. They bloom best when 



Pelargonium, or Zonal Geranium, Duchess of Cornwall 



established in large pots or tubs, and well 

 exposed to the sun. Cuttings root very 

 easily in spring (they will indeed form roots 

 in bottles of water), and grow freely in 

 ordinary potting compost. An important 

 point in the care of Oleander is to remove 

 the small shoots that cluster round about 

 the flower buds, otherwise they develop at 

 the expense of the latter, which shrivel in- 

 stead of making progress. 



Nicotiana. (See Annuals for the Green- 

 house.) 



Oleander. (See Xerium.) 

 Ophiopogon. (See Foliage Plants for the 

 Greenhouse.) 



Parlour Palm. (See Aspidistra.) 

 Passiflora. (See Climbing Plants for the 

 Greenhouse.) 



Pelargonium. An extensive genus of 

 plants, many members of 

 which are general favourites. 

 The garden varieties are di- 

 vided into several sections ; 

 thus we have Zonal Pelar- 

 goniums, both single and 

 double, Ivy-leaved, Fancy, 

 Decorative, Show, Scented- 

 leaved, Bronze and Tricolor- 

 leaved varieties. To the 

 Zonals belong those popu- 

 larly termed Scarlet Gera- 

 niums, though the blooms 

 vary in colour from white 

 to deep crimson, while the 

 double forms show an equal 

 variation in tint. From 

 this race come the Bronze 

 and Tricolor-leaved varie- 

 ties, remarkable, especially 

 the last - named, for the 

 beautiful markings of their 

 foliage. They are, however, 

 less popular now than a 

 generation or so ago, as at 

 that time they were exten- 

 sively used for summer bed- 

 ding. The Ivy leaved 

 varieties with double blos- 

 soms have, on the other 

 hand, become great favour- 

 ites during the same period. 

 They are extremely useful 

 in the greenhouse, either in 

 pots or trained against the walls or pillars, 

 where they will flower throughout the sum- 

 mer, for bedding purposes, and particularly 

 for furnishing vases, window boxes, and bal- 

 conies. The Show and Decorative varieties 

 greatly resemble each other, the chief dis- 

 tinction being that the markings of the flowers 

 of the Show kinds are more regular than 

 those of the others. They are essentially 

 greenhouse plants, and are often popularly 



