December, 1907 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



243 



The newest favorite red rose is Richmond, an Ameri- 

 can seedlings that lasts well 



and much pleasure can be derived from 

 raising new plants from cuttings. These 

 are made from the ends of the shoots, and 

 taking them off will make the parent plant 

 more stocky. The removed shoots can be 

 put into any light, well drained soil and 

 are almost sure to "strike" and make roots. 



In the more modern kinds, the individual 

 flowers are often about two inches across, 

 but the best Christmas colors are still found 

 in some of the older favorites. 



Amateurs who want to have their gera- 

 niums in flower at Christmas must start the 

 plants into growth early in the summer, not 

 letting them flower before the winter. 



THE BEST PRIMROSE 



The Chinese primrose, with its truss of 

 bright flowers nestling snugly in a rosette 

 of handsome foliage, is eminently well-fitted 

 for a centre-piece for the breakfast table. It 

 will thrive in a fairly cool room, and as a 

 window plant when it does not get either 

 chilled or dry. I have seen it flourish for a 



whole year, throwing up a succession of 

 flowers and increasing greatly in size. But 

 a sudden change of air is certain to injure 

 the plant. 



THE BEST POTTED ROSE 



The Bab}- Rambler rose never fails to 

 please because it is forever in bloom. In- 

 doors and outdoors, summer and winter, this 

 energetic little thing may be seen in flower. 

 Its color is not of the brightest, but its lavish- 

 ness of bloom would compensate for much. 



A CHRISTMAS CACTUS 



The most gorgeous red of any flower of 

 the season ccmes to us in the crab cactus. 

 The popular name comes from the fact that 

 the plant has a peculiar drooping habit 

 and the long flowers borne on the ends of he 

 branches are likened to the claws of a crab. 



THE ONLY RED-FLOWERED BULB 



The only red-flowered Dutch bulb that can 

 be forced thus early is one of the Due van 



Geraniums 

 easiest 



Because it is persistently in flower the Baby Ram- 

 bler rose is always a firm favorite 



Thol tulips. This cannot well be grown by 

 the amateur for Christmas without a green- 

 house but it is always seen in quantity, both 

 cut and in pots or pans at the florist's. A 

 very pretty decoration is made by arranging 

 four tulips in a six-inch pot with a small 

 fern in the centre. Sometimes forced pips 

 of lily-of-the-valley are arranged with the 

 tulips. It is hardly worth while to save the 

 bulbs for another year, but if one really wants 

 to it can be done easily. Keep the bulb 

 growing after the flower has fallen, and when 

 the foliage is properly ripened, plant- the 

 bulbs outdoors after all frost is past and 

 leave them alone to flower the following 

 spring, or they may be stored indoors like 

 other bulbs and set out in the fall. 



THE EARLIEST AZALEAS 



The Indian azalea, in certain varieties, 

 can be had for Christmas, but generally 

 the hard wooded plants, including rhododen- 

 drons and roses, are not easily moved into 



The most floriferous plant is Gloire de Lorraine be- 

 gonia, but its [lowers are pink 



growth before Easter, when however the 

 chief demand is for white flowers. 



Naturally plants with bright red berries 

 are welcome at Christmas. These were 

 described a year ago in The Garden Mag- 

 azine for December 1906. Of late years 

 the skimmia has'been seen in greater numbers 

 than before. It has large leather}- dark 

 green leaves and bright red egg-shaped 

 berries larger than those of either the holly 

 or the Ardisia. The skimmia, like the 

 azaleas are imported from Europe, none are 

 grown in this country. The azaleas, however, 

 are flowered after they arrive. 



Occasionally a few well-berried specimens 

 of the real English holly are imported from 

 abroad, reaching these shores very close to 

 Christmas time. They are of pyramidal 

 form, and are shipped in tubs, like some of 

 the bay trees. These hollies are not reliably 

 hardy, although one may find an occasional 

 plant or a group of plants here and there 

 throughout the East; indeed, there are some 

 large trees on Long Island. 



The crab cactus has the brightest colors of any red 

 winter flowering plant. Good for house culture 



