TREATMENT OF TROPICAL BULBS, SEEDS, ETC. 59 



leaves. Caladiums require a partial shade, and if kept 

 in a greenhouse during summer, the glass should be 

 shaded, but the light of an ordinary sitting-room would 

 be just about right ; so that even those who have not a 

 greenhouse can grow these rather rare and beautiful 

 plants with perfect ease. The only thing necessary if 

 grown as a window plant, is to turn the pot around every 

 few days so that each side may get a proper amount of 

 light a necessity with all plants grown in windows. 

 The soil best suited for its growth is that known as sandy 

 loam, to which should be added one-third rotted manure 

 or leaf mold. 



The same time of starting and a similarly high tem- 

 perature is required for Begonias of all kinds, Bouvardias, 

 Cissus, Coleuses, Dracaenas, Euphorbias, Poinsettias, and 

 all other plants known as " hot-house" or " tropical," 

 and the same general treatment will in nearly all cases 

 lead to satisfactory results. All of the plants or bulbs 

 referred to will dwindle or die if long kept in a low tem- 

 perature, and hence it is important that amateurs should 

 remember that they ought not to attempt the cultivation 

 of these plants unless they have the means of steadily 

 keeping up the necessary high temperature. For that 

 reason we recommend that they should not be started 

 before May, as then they run less risk of being chilled. 



What is true of tropical bulbs or plants is equally so of 

 tropical seeds. Those who have not had experience or 

 who have not the means of keeping up the necessary 

 high temperature, should not sow the seeds of tropical 

 plants before April 1st. Of vegetable seeds, the 

 best known of this class are the Tomato, Pepper, and 

 Egg-plant. I know they are often started in March in 

 hot-beds or greenhouses with satisfactory results, but let 

 any one try the experiment of sowing on March 1st and on 

 April 1st, and note the result in the earliness of the crops, 

 from the two sowings, and he will find that the chances 



