ON ROOM PLANTS. 



775 



Phyllocactuses are chiefly remarkable for their large flowers, many 

 of them sweetly scented. By way of stimulant, soot-water will be 

 found safe and efficient Occasionally Cactuses will be attacked 

 by that pest of plant-houses, Mealy-bug. When this is the case, 

 a camel-hair brush should be dipped into a bottle containing 

 methylated spirit, and the insects just lightly brushed with this. 

 In late summer it is an excellent practice to stand window 

 Cactuses in the hottest part of the garden to ripen their growth, 

 and when insect pests appear to turn the plants upon their 

 sides, and syringe them with hot water. For fuller particulars, 

 see the Chapter "On Cacti and Other Succulents." 



Bulbs and tubers need very little recommendation to the 

 window-gardener : they constitute, in fact, his sheet-anchor in the 

 dullest days. Crocuses, Hyacinths, Scillas (Squills), Snowdrops, 

 Daffodils, and other Narcissi, are all indispensable. The best 

 way to grow them is to pot them up as soon as procurable in 

 autumn, the earlier. the better, and then plunge them outside in 

 cocoanut fibre, transferring them to their quarters when the roots 

 have been formed, and top-growth is in evidence. 



One of the finest room plants is the Chinese Sacred Lily, which 

 may be grown in the showy basins sold for the purpose, and as 

 described under " Hardy Bulbs and Tubers." Crocuses, again, 

 may be grown in shallow saucers, partly filled with water ; and 

 Hyacinths in the glasses sold for the purpose. To be thoroughly 

 successful with this method of culture the vessels should 

 for a time be stood in a cupboard, or elsewhere, that light may 

 be kept from them until the roots are thoroughly active. Bulbs 

 so treated are not, however, of any service next season. Solomon's 

 Seal {Polygonatian miiltifloriuii) makes a most effective room plant. 

 It should be potted up in late autumn, plunged in cocoanut fibre 

 outside until growth is active, watered freely, and after flowering 

 returned to the border. 



Quite different from the bulbs enumerated above is the 

 Scarborough Lily ( Valloia purpurea). This is an ideal window- 

 plant, but not often grown to perfection, as its requirements are 

 but imperfectly understood. Chief among these are good 

 drainage, plenty of water when starting into growth, to be left 

 without repotting for three or four years, and a sunny position. 

 The leaves, too, which are of good substance, accumulate a 

 lot of dust ; they should therefore be sponged, as recom- 

 mended for certain foliage plants. The bulbs are susceptible 

 to frosts, and it is therefore safer to remove the pots containing 

 them from the window in frosty weather. 



Ixias and Sparaxis are graceful bulbs all too seldom employed 

 as window subjects, though eminently fitted for such a phase of 

 culture. They should be potted in autumn, and when they 

 have ripened their foliage be allowed a rest for a few weeks 

 prior to being repotted. They require no coddling, and they 



