8 



HOUSE PLANTS 



of May. Wistarias in large pots, and hya- 

 cinths came next, while more tulips (variety 

 Murillo) and a huge plant of double flowering 

 cherry {Prunus Pseudo-Cerasus, var. hor- 

 tensis flore-pleno, known in the trade as 

 P. Sieboldii, var. rubra plena) made March 

 gay with pink tints. The calla lilies flower 

 until May. 



In such a place as this seeds of the green- 

 house type of plant, such as primrose, 

 cineraria, and calceolaria, may be started 

 in the usual way, in flats with window glass 

 over the boxes to prevent too rapid evapor- 

 ation of the moisture, but care must be taken 

 to secure the right soil. Finely sifted woods 

 earth, mixed with one-third sandy loam, has 

 proved a reliable combination in the hands 

 of the lady who presides over the house, in 

 which to germinate the seeds of these plants. 

 Drainage is provided by a layer of sharp 

 sand and bits of broken crockery and char- 

 coal in the bottom of the box. 



When the seedlings have developed three 

 or four leaves, they are transplanted to one 

 and one-half inch pots, using about the 

 same soil and drainage as in the flats, adding 

 a small quantity of well-rotted cow manure. 



