December, 1917 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



159 



Ornamental Peppers 



AS THE holiday season approaches, one 

 frequently sees in the florists' windows 

 pots of gay little peppers — the tiny fruits in all 

 stages of development, ranging in color from 

 green through cream and yellow to brightest 

 red. They are most attractive and are a 

 practical gift besides, as the pods may be 

 picked to add piquancy to a sauce or salad. 

 If kept well watered and sprinkled, the pods 

 will last until February, after which they 

 may be given the same treatment as the 

 Jerusalem Cherry. 



Azalea 



TT REQUIRES no little will power to resist 

 ■*• the lure of the flower shop in Azalea time. 

 Such gorgeous colorings and such a wealth of 

 bloom! Although fairly expensive to buy 

 when in full bloom, an Azalea is really a good 

 investment, because with a little care it will 

 live and blossom for many years, increasing 

 in size and beauty each winter, and will add 

 a note of color to living-room or conservatory 

 that no other plant gives. When the bloom- 

 ing season is over, do not thrust the plant into 

 the cellar or into some obscure corner. That 

 is the Azalea's annual growing period and it 

 must be encouraged to make a good growth 

 in order to store up strength for next season's 

 bloom. It is well to repot the plant then, 

 using if possible a soil composed of sand and 

 leaf mold mixed with good garden soil. 

 Keep it in a cool, sunny room, and spray often 

 with lukewarm water. Pick off all dead 

 flowers and prune back any uneven growth. 

 The Azalea is easily injured by too much or 

 too little water; the soil should always be 

 moist, never dry nor water-soaked. As soon 

 as danger of frost is over, sink the pot in the 

 ground in a cool, partly shaded spot in the 

 garden, placing a layer of coal ashes in the 

 bottom of the hole before setting the pot 

 therein^ Keep it well watered and sprayed 

 during the summer, turning the pot occasion- 

 ally to keep the growth symmetrical. A few 

 applications of fertilizer will increase the 





Ornamental Pepper or Capsicum is handled just like the 

 old favorite Jerusalem Cherry. They come with fruits in 

 several colors. Seeds from the berries may be sown in 

 February 



growth. Before frost remove the plant to 

 the house and keep in a cool, well lighted 

 room. When ready to force bring into a 

 sunny window, spraying daily. As soon as 

 the flower buds are well formed, remove from 

 the direct rays of the sun. 



Winter Begonia 



A NOTHER lovely gift flower is any Begonia 

 -*■*- of the Gloire de Lorraine type. So profuse 

 is the bloom that the foliage is almost hidden 

 and each plant seems a great bouquet of soft 

 pink flowers. If kept cool and well sprayed, the 

 blossoms will last until April. The plant 

 will then require a season of rest, during 

 which it should be kept in a cool, well lighted 

 room, giving only enough water to prevent 

 the plant from drying. About the first of 

 June it should be repotted, using a soil com- 

 posed of leaf mold, sand and loam, with a 



sprinkling of bone meal. During the summer 

 keep in a shaded position. After hot weather 

 is past, a vigorous new growth should appear, 

 and the plant can be gradually brought into 

 full sunshine, keeping it as near the glass as 

 possible to develop flower buds. Occasional 

 doses of liquid fertilizer or bone meal should 

 be given. 



Cyclamen 



' I ^HE dainty Cyclamen will usually live and 

 -*- blossom for several years, although the 

 flowers will not be so large as on new bulbs. 

 The blooming season of the Cyclamen is usually 

 over about the first of May. When no more 

 flower buds appear water should be gradually 

 withheld and the bulb allowed to ripen. About 

 the middle of May plunge the pot outside in 

 a shady, well-drained spot, watering occasion- 

 ally. As soon as new leaves appear repot 

 the plant, using equal parts of sand, leaf 

 mold and loam, with a little bone meal. 

 Do not bury the bulb; simply press it into 

 the soil. The Cyclamen does not need strong 

 sunshine and thrives best in a fairly cool 

 room. It relishes a daily spraying with luke- 

 warm water to discourage the red spider, 

 which is its only enemy. 



Various Bulbs 



tpACH year one sees more and more bulbs 

 ■*- J forced into bloom for Christmas. Pans of 

 graceful Roman Hyacinths, baskets of Daf- 

 fodils tied with gay ribbons and pots of early 

 Tulips are f displayed in the florist's window to 

 lure the passer-by into buying one of the love- 

 liest gifts of the season. Equally as fascinat- 

 ing as these pots of bloom are the boxes con- 

 taining a little bowl of pottery or brass, some 

 fat brown bulbs and a supply of white peb- 

 bles. All that is needed is to place the bulbs 

 in the bowl, surrounding them with the peb- 

 bles to keep them upright, fill with cool, 

 fresh water, place in a sunny window — -and 

 watch the mystery unfold. As soon as the 

 flowers appear remove to a cool corner of the 

 room. "Can I force them again?" is the 



The Indian Azalea is a good investment, increasing in size and beauty each year, 

 be kept growing after flowering and not dried off 



It must 



The Cyclamen will bloom year after year. Gradually dry off after blooming to ripen the 

 bulb. Plunge outdoors in early summer and encourage to grow 



