THE WINTER WINDOW GARDEN 99 



makes a very decorative plant, and its flowers, 

 when cut, last well in water — indeed, it is a 

 most desirable plant for either the window 

 garden or small greenhouse. 



To have good plants for winter flowering, 

 start in March. The usual way of increasing 

 this plant is by root cuttings. (See Chapter 

 V.) Another good way is to divide a 

 healthy plant into pieces small enough to 

 go in three-inch pots. The plants are grov/n 

 on as rapidly as possible in the house in 

 a night temperature of 60 degrees. During 

 the last week in May, plant the bouvardia 

 out in the open in rich soil, where it 

 can have water and thorough cultivation. 

 Here they will make a rapid growth. Pinch 

 back the leaves from time to time during 

 summer, in order to induce a compact 

 growth. 



Late in August, the plants must be trans- 

 ferred to their winter quarters — a house 

 having a night temperature of about 50 

 degrees. I have always grown bouvardias 

 in pots; but they may be put in a box, setting 

 the plants ten to twelve inches apart. If 

 you have a small greenhouse the benches 

 of which are to be empty during the summer, 



