156 



HOUSE PLANTS 



succulent plants " is the so-called century 

 plant {Agave Americana), from the supposi- 

 tion that it blooms but once in a century. It 

 seldom does bloom in cultivation, but that 

 is because of insufficient pot room which 

 cramps the roots and supplies a meagre 

 amount of plant food. Under favourable 

 conditions the century plant has been made 

 to flower in something like twenty years. 

 To accomplish this an abundance of plant 

 food and water was supplied. Although 

 this, as well as all the other agaves, come 

 from the arid portions of south - western 

 United States and Mexico where they have 

 a strenuous struggle for existence, they will 

 promptly respond to good treatment. 



The century plant is very useful to the 

 amateur. If he does not care for it in the 

 living room it can be grown in a tub and 

 set on or in the lawn during the summer 

 and stored during the cool months of the 

 year in a rather light but frost-proof cellar. 

 Stored thus, it will require but little water 

 during the winter. 



Small plants can be grown all winter in the 

 living room, and when warm weather comes 

 they may be used for porch decoration. 



