78 Milady's House Plants 



are kept during Winter is reduced, say to §$° at 

 night and 65° in the daytime, the best possible com- 

 promise is reached and the plants, though not pro- 

 ducing flowers in profusion, will retain their health 

 and respond quickly to the longer, sunnier days of 

 Spring. 



The Most Valuable Flowering Plant 



In the same class with Geraniums are the various 

 Begonias. Begonia semperflorens is the most valu- 

 able flowering plant of all, being easy of cultivation, 

 exceedingly beautiful and truly everblooming. The 

 best variety is Prima Donna, a pleasing shade of 

 pink, of strong growth and shapely habit. The only 

 red one, not quite as robust as the above, but very 

 desirable, is Luminosa. There are also among Be- 

 gonias those very useful varieties that have beautiful 

 foliage as well as flowers, such as Metallica Saunder- 

 soni, Haageana and many others. They are all easy 

 of cultivation and very ornamental plants. Begonia 

 rex, or Royal Begonia, is still another species with 

 large, richly colored leaves, that should be repre- 

 sented in every collection, also the now common Be- 

 gonia Gloire de Lorraine. 



Abutilon 



This is a hardy decorative plant of which many 

 varieties are useful as window plants, particularly in 

 a sunparlor or conservatory. Some are of drooping 

 habit, with green and gold blotched leaves and a 

 profusion of bell-shaped, reddish colored flowers and 

 are suitable for brackets, high shelves and hanging 



