Febri \ H V . 1 !) 1 ^ 



T 1 1 E C. A R I) E N MAGAZIN E 



19 



Only a makeshift, but nevertheless a source of much real pleasure, and gives flowers all through the winter and spring months 



Of other bulbs that can be mentioned for 

 this purpose are, Early flowering single 

 and double tulips, Peacock iris, Spanish 

 iris, anemones, ixias, gladioli, zephry- 

 anthes, Easter lilies, lilies of the valley, 

 ranunculus, and many others that you will 

 find listed in most florists' catalogues. 



Having tried nearly everything named 

 in the catalogues, from tea-roses through- 

 out the list of tropical plants, during the 

 first two years of my little conservatory's 

 life, I have gradually been forced to de- 

 pend entirely on different species of be- 

 gonia, geraniums, primroses, and impa- 

 tiens for the plants that I am sure of grow- 

 ing successfully. I have accordingly spe- 

 cialized in these four, with the addition 

 or a few double petunias, stocks, and 

 calendulas, brought in from the outdoor 

 garden in the fall. These last named are 

 used for fillers, and can not be depended 

 upon except in the case of the petunias. 

 The others generally succumb to frost or 

 insects before the winter is over. I have 

 tried pansies, that do well for a few weeks, 

 but they are so susceptible to aphis, that 

 they have proved more bother than they 

 are worth. 



GERANIUMS 



All that I have tried seem to be satis- 

 factory. To my mind, it is more artistic 

 to use a single variety for the outer edge 

 of the conservatory, nearest the glass, 



than to mix colors. Others may enjoy 

 making a collection of various colors and 

 types. One must be sure however, of 

 buying very small plants, in early fall, if 

 the plants are wanted for winter blooming. 

 The larger plants will not blossom satis- 

 factorily until spring, while the small 

 ones will begin as soon as they are well 

 established in their new quarters (usually 

 about four weeks) and will continue all the 

 winter. I have depended on a single, 

 salmon-pink variety, Mrs. E. G. Hill, 

 for the past two years, as it is most free in 

 blossom. 



BEGONIAS 



The Gloire de Lorraine, and gracilis 

 hybrids, that come in shades of pink, 

 scarlet and white, are the only begonias 

 that I have found to be perfectly trust- 

 worthy in an uncertain temperature. These, 

 however, are a mass of blossom during 

 the entire year. They can be slipped very 

 readily, and one large florist's plant of 

 each variety, bought in the fall, will pro- 

 vide many dozen plants for the conserva- 

 tory. The little plants bloom when very 

 young, and are rapid growers. Though 

 hardy, it is not best to plant them near 

 the glass, if the climate is severe. 



PRIMROSES 



These have proved by far the most 

 trustworthy plants in my conservatory, 



and consequently I have made them my 

 specialty. I raise my own plants from 

 seed, in a shady corner of the yard, and 

 they require very little attention after 

 they have made the second pair of leaves. 

 Seed planted in pans in the house, in 

 early April, will provide plants that will 

 bloom from about December until late 

 spring. The following kinds are the ones 

 that I can recommend as entirely satis- 

 factory. 



Of the Chinese or regular florists' type, 

 the singles, in shades of pink, scarlet, white 

 and streaked, also one purple-blue variety, 

 are all easy to grow and most satisfactory. 

 They flower the earliest. The doubles, 

 in like colors, are good too. The fern- 

 leaved forms have graceful foliage and are 

 a welcome relief. The flowers are the 

 same as in the ordinary singles. 



Stellata is a simplified form of the 

 Chinese, of pyramidal growth, and will 

 repay extra care in protecting and attention, 

 by its blossoms. These form a pyramid 

 about eight inches high, in shades of pink, 

 scarlet, lavender and white. 



P. obconica comes in shades of lavender, 

 scarlet, pink, and white, running decidedly 

 to lavender. The flowers are more grace- 

 ful than in Chinensis, and borne well above 

 the foliage. Equally free in bloom. They 

 are one of the stand-bys for conservatory 

 or house-culture. This species is poisonous 

 to many people, and care should be taken 



