DECOKATIVE USE OF FLOWERS. 



279 



hands of the cultivator, whatever position they may 

 occupy. It is extraordirary what superficial know- 

 ledge some have who are not practically acquainted 

 with the requirements of plants. They will, per- 

 haps, say, " Oh ! we watered our plants a little every 

 morning, and they cannot have suffered in. that 

 way." It is this dribhling system that is the evil, 

 the soil neail}' always being saturated with water. 

 Or, on the other hand, we may see the opposite ex- 

 treme of neglecting to water for days together, and 

 then giving a quantity to make up for deficiencies. 

 During the late autumn, the winter, and the early 

 spring months, the plants in rooms should he care- 

 fully shielded from draughts and the cold exterior 

 atmosphere. We often see plants placed in windows, 

 or near them, and no better place either, taken as a 

 whole ; in the early morning, however, the windows 

 are thrown up when cleansing operations are being 

 carried on, quite irrespective of the plants and 

 the state of the weather outside, with, perhaps, a 

 few degrees of frost or a biting wind. No wonder 

 that plants should suffer when thus exposed. To 

 remedy this, remove them to a table or other con- 

 venient spot till the window can again be partially 

 closed. Windows with plants in or near them should 

 he opened at the top, not at the bottom, so that the 

 cold air will not strike right on to the plant. 



Ornamental vases or pots can be obtained of many 

 varied designs to suit the taste ; those with a hole in 

 the bottom to let off the water that drains from the 

 pot will be found the best ; such generally have an 

 ornamental saucer to accompany them. Rustic 

 stands or baskets to hold a small group are very 

 pretty when carefully filled, with a carpeting of 

 fresh green Moss placed between them. With such 

 as these, a few plants of drooping habit will be of 

 use around the edges, or some nice fresh tufts of 

 Selaginella denticulata or S. ccesia. 



The following list of plants may be taken under 

 the first division hinted at as being good durable 

 room plants ; those marked with (*) being capable 

 of effective use as dinner-plants as well. Of foliage 

 subjects : Aspidistra hirida variegata, from China, 

 one of the best, thriving in unfavourable posi- 

 tions as well or better than the Ficus elastica 

 (India-rubber Plant) ; this, too, must be included, 

 being an excellent subject for a high window 

 when the plant reaches three or more feet in height. 

 Stenocarpiis sinuatus, a little-known plant with pin- 

 natifid foliage, and very pretty in a small state. 

 Aralia Sieboldii and its variegated forms are hand- 

 some objects for large-sized vases, both distinct and 

 durable. A. reticulata is also a good plant, with 

 narrow leaves, unlike most of the Aralias. Of the 

 green-house Braceenas, two or three of the green- 

 leaved forms are very useful, being also of good consti- 



tution. D. congesta* with narrow leaves of medium 

 length, is one of the hardiest ; D. rubra* with broader 

 foliage, is equally useful. Eurya latifoUa varicgata,, 

 best described as resembling a Camellia with varie- 

 gated foliage, is very ornamental. Farfugium grande, 

 or the Variegated Coltsfoot, is a good dwarf plant. 

 Grevillearobusta * is coming to be better known since 

 it has been raised from seed ; its Fern-like foliage is 

 very ornamental and distinct. Opliiopogon Jaburan 

 variegata, with grass-like leafage and pretty spikes 

 of porcelain-blue flowers, is a good lasting plant. 

 Fhopala corcovudensis, with its rich brown tomentose 

 stems and younger leaves, is very ornamental as well 

 as of good lasting properties ; R. elegantissima * is 

 another handsome kind ; R. De Jongliii, with more 

 massive foliage, is also good. 



Several of the hardier kinds of Palms are among 

 the most ornamental plants for room decoration. 

 The following list comprises the best adapted for re- 

 maining any time in rooms and other positions in the 

 house : — Areca sapida [RJiopalostylis sapida), A.Baueri 

 [Rhopalostylis Baueri), Chamoerops humilis, C. excelsa 

 {Trachy carpus excelsus), K. Forsteriana'* [Howea For- 

 steriana), Latania borbonica {Livistona chinemis), 

 Fhcenix reclinata, P. rupicola* P. tenuis, P. dactylifera, 

 Rhapis Jlabelliformis, and Seaforthia elegans* {Ptycho- 

 sperma Cunning hamiana) ; these being all cool-house 

 species, with good lasting foliage that does not so 

 easily suffer from exposure. There are not many 

 stove plants adapted for remaining many days out of 

 their quarters; the green-leaved Pandanus, as P. 

 graminifolius,^ P. utilis, and P. Vandermeerschii* are 

 about the best. We have, however, several Ferns 

 that succeed for months together, provided they have 

 a favoui^able position with an average amount of 

 light. Adiantum pubescens, Aspleni/im bulbiferum, A. 

 JIaccidum, A. lucidum, Cyrtomiuni falcatum, Lavallia 

 canarieusis, F>. Mariesii (comparatively new), Bictyo- 

 grainma japonicum, Lastrea Sieboldii, L. Standishii, 

 Nephrolepis exaltata, N. pectinata, N. tuberosa, Nipho- 

 bolus lingua, Plilebodimn aureum, Platycerium alcicorne, 

 Platxjloma falcatum, Pteris cretica, P. longifolia, P.ser- 

 rulata (or Ribbon Fern), P. tremula, and P. umbrosa. 

 These Ferns would give greater satisfaction than the 

 more delicate forms. The Maiden-hair [Adiantum 

 cuneatum)* is often attempted, but generally creates 

 disappointment, growing less day by day. 



Some few plants are well adapted when in a 

 large state for situations of considerable extent ; 

 such, for instance, as Phormium tenax, and its va- 

 riegated varieties ; and the tall-growing Dracaenas, 

 B. australis, B. indivisa, and B. lineata* (these 

 three are really Cordylines), with the greenhouse 

 species of the genus Yucca ; these plants in a small 

 state are not generally so useful, Braccena aus- 

 tralis being the best of them when young. Many 



