226 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



December, 1905 



They soon lose their leaves, and are then 

 eyesores rather than things of beauty. 



BULBS THAT BLOOM THE WINTER THROUGH 



There are very few bulbous plants that 

 can be had in flower in the ordinary dwelling 

 at Christmas. Lots of them can be found at 

 the florists', but they have been unduly forced, 

 and will last only a few days when taken out 

 of the warm, humid atmosphere of the green- 

 house. There are a few exceptions, how- 

 ever. Roman hyacinths, paper-white nar- 

 cissus and Chinese sacred lily, if potted up 

 early, will come into bloom by Christmas 

 under normal conditions. These bulbs can 

 be purchased at two, three and four cents 

 each, and make a very fine display if planted 

 four or six in a 6-inch pot. It is really quite 

 easy to manage these bulbs ; if potted in Sep- 

 tember and placed in an ordinary cellar, 

 beyond the reach of frost and away from the 

 drying heat of the furnace, covered over with 

 any moisture-retaining substance, such as 

 leaves, moss or litter, until such time as the 

 pots are well filled with roots, and then 

 brought into light and warmth, they will give 

 a wealth of bloom the whole winter through. 

 The season of flowering is regulated by 

 the time of the removal from the dark, cool 

 cellar into light and warmth. 



Tulips and Dutch hyacinths can be treated 

 the same way, but it is almost impossible to 

 get them into flower before February or 

 March, and if you do get them the result is 

 never really satisfactory. The Chinese sacred 

 lily is nearly always grown in glass dishes, 

 with water and pebbles as a medium to root 

 in. But it can be grown just as successfully 

 in soil. On the other hand, the paper-white 

 polyanthus narcissus, that is usually grown 

 in soil, can be grown just as successfully in 

 stones and water. 



Hyacinths for succession can be grown in 

 the same way, only they are so top heavy 

 when in flower that in such a dish it is hard to 

 find a means of support. Growing bulbs in 



Something different from the ordinary every-day 

 palms and more graceful. Why not try a novelty once 

 in a while? (Kentia Sanderiana) 



Three gay foliage plants that will relieve the 

 plain and simple greens. From left to right they are, 

 croton (Codiaeum), yellow and green ; dracaena, red ; 

 and screw pine (Pandanus), green and white. Crotons 

 and dracaenas come in many varieties 



water is simplicity itself. Fill up any old dish 

 with stones and gravel and a few pieces of 

 charcoal, and then fill in with water to within 

 a quarter of an inch of the top. Place your 

 bulbs in the gravel — not on it— with several 

 big pieces of stone between them to keep 

 them in place. If the base of the bulb 

 touches the water it is liable to decay, there- 

 fore have them just deep enough to be firm, 

 and as near as possible without touching. 

 Put in a dark place until well rooted, but 

 after the tops begin to grow give them light. 

 They can always be retarded in a cool place, 

 but if kept too long in the dark they will 

 become drawn and pale and never regain 

 their natural strength. 



Flowering plants of any description want 

 more or less sunlight at all times. This is 

 not always possible in a dwelling house. 

 There are shady windows and odd corners in 

 every home, and usually these are the places 

 that are most in need of something growing 

 to brighten them. For such situations some 

 of the foliage plants must be used, and fortu- 

 nately there is an abundance of good things 

 to choose from. Few people seem to know 

 that the shield flower {Aspidistra lurida) and 

 its golden striped variety (A. lurida, var. 

 variegata) are unquestionably the hardiest 

 of all such plants. There is nothing in cul- 

 tivation to-day that will stand such hard 

 usage and survive in such untoward environ- 

 ment. As these plants are propagated only 

 by division, and growth is slow, they are 

 expensive, and that may account for their 

 comparative neglect. They are usually sold 

 at so much a leaf, fifteen cents per leaf being 

 a fair price. It takes a good many leaves, 

 however, to make a handsome plant, and 

 anything that costs less than $2.50 is hardly 

 worth having. The variegated form is just 

 a trifle more expensive than the green type. 



Next in hardiness to the aspidistra is the 

 new fiddle-leaved rubber (Ficus pandurata). 

 A bold-growing plant, with leaves larger than 

 those of the common plant and darker green, 

 this newcomer is even hardier than the old- 

 time rubber, but good plants are worth $15. 



The ground rattan palm (Rhapis) must 

 be considered where the chief object in view 



is the ability to stand ill-usage. None of 

 these plants are graceful, but they are recom- 

 mended for their toughness. 



Of the very graceful palms, the best are 

 the Howeas or, as they are commonly called 

 by the florists, Kentias, which will withstand 

 any ordinary usage. They are suitable for 

 the drawing room or dining room, but should 

 not be kept in too dark a corner. The prices 

 of these vary greatly, according to the size, 

 ranging from seventy-five cents to as many 

 dollars, or even more, for exceptionally large 

 plants. These large ones cost more because 

 they are very slow growing. As house plants, 

 where they can get light they are quite satis- 

 factory and will grow for years. There are 

 two species commonly in the trade — the curly 

 palm (H. Belmoreana), the more erect grow- 

 ing, and the thatch palm (H. Forsteriana), 

 with flat or spreading leaves. 



All these plants, with their broad green 

 leaves, get dusty very readily, and should be 

 sponged off once a week with water contain- 

 ing a very little Ivory soap. It does not 

 injure the tissues. Just enough soap is 

 needed to soften the water; by no means 

 enough to color it. 



The lighter foliage effects of the screw pine 

 are worth a place. I know of one (Pandanus 

 Veitchii) that was raised in a dwelling house 

 from a small side shoot five years ago and 

 has been kept there ever since. It is now a 

 beautiful specimen, as good as will be found 

 in most greenhouses. These pines are easy 

 enough to keep over winter if watered very 

 sparingly, otherwise the roots will rot. Take 

 care also that no water gets into the centre of 

 the plant, because if this happens the centre 

 or growing tip will rot. 



The Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria ex- 

 celsa) is a house plant of considerable merit 

 and charms because of its rigid formality — a 

 little fir tree quite distinct from anything 

 else among the house plants. 



There are but few ferns that can be relied 

 upon to give satisfaction in a home. Unques- 



1 



The charm of the Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria 

 excelsa) is its formal habit. One of the best all-round 

 house plants, growing well in the window all the year 



