126 VERANDAH GARDENING 



Overcrowding of the plants should always be avoided, for space as 

 well as cleanliness is essential for their well-being. The foliage 

 should be syringed frequently, and all dead, sickly, or superfluous 

 growth removed. The pots or tubs should not be ungainly in size, 

 or of grotesque appearance, and should always be raised off the 

 ground and placed on neatly arranged or concealed bricks. 



Drawing-room plants. Everybody experiences at one time 

 or another the difficulty of keeping plants in good condition in a 

 room, for, however carefully tended, these sometimes sicken or 

 become discoloured. This may be due to insufficient sun-light, 

 which may be obviated to a large extent by placing the plants out 

 of doors at night and early parj: of the day, as well as on all occasions 

 when not required ; frequently, however, excessive watering is the 

 cause of failure (See Watering pot-plants, below). Whenever prac- 

 ticable, the plants should be placed out of doors in the rain, in a 

 shady corner, in order to keep their foliage clean and fresh. 



Selection of plants for Verandahs. Certain plants are more 

 adapted for growing under cover than others. Thus in a selection 

 for the low-country, foliage plants such as Ferns, Begonias, 

 Palms, etc., should predominate ; while for the higher elevations 

 flowering annuals or perennials, hardy ferns, etc., are best adapted. 

 The following indicate the kinds chiefly suited in either case. 

 For the Low-country : Feathery palms, such as Chrysalidocarpus, 

 Caryota ("Kitul"), Ptychosperma, Martinczia, Phoenix (Date kind), 

 and Cocos (Coconut kind) ; Fan-palms as Livistona australis, 

 L. rotundifolia, L. Chineifisis, Thrinax, Latania, and Sabal; also 

 Anthuriums, Alocasias, Begonias, Mar ant as, Ferns, Caladiuws, 

 Ophiopogon, etc. For Up-country : Pelargoniums, Geraniums, 

 Petunias, Begonias, Primulas, Gloxinias, Cinerarias, Chrysanthemums, 

 Fuchias, Cyclamens, Gesnerias, Streptocarpus, Bouvardias, Adianium 

 and other ferns, etc. (See Selections for Up-country). 



WATERING OF POT-PLANTS 



Watering is one of the most important operations connected 

 with the cultivation of plants in pots, for a deficient or excessive 

 supply of water is a most frequent cause of languid growth or death 

 of such plants. To know just the proper amount of water that 

 is most beneficial to a plant requires judgment, and can only be 

 learnt by observation of the requirements of each species. In 

 watering plants, especially young or delicate kinds, a watering-can 

 with a good rose should always be used ; but it must not be for- 

 gotten that this affords a dishonest gardener a greater opportunity 



