THE FLORAL WORLD 



13 



FLORAL BEAUTY INDOORS 



We can scarcely realize that an- 

 other seed time and harvest has gone 

 by, so swift is the passage of time. 

 And now, ^today, we are preparing to 

 stand face to face, shortly, with King 

 Winter. 



It is an easy matter to have floral 

 beauty in our rooms when the outside 

 world is in its long winter's sleep. 

 We often wonder how people, especial- 

 ly who are in the country, can pass 

 the dreary months away without a 

 single flower or bit of leaf growing in 

 their windows. Every home needs the 

 cheer and brightness that plants and 

 flowers bring into it. Flowers help us 

 to tide over the wintry days; their 

 beauty and sweetness fllls into our 

 lives and keeps the heart fresh and 

 green. 



To secure the best results in a win- 

 dow collection much depends upon the 

 choice made. Aim to secure plants 

 that bloom long and freely, and be 

 careful about adding novelties. I am 

 satisfied with common plants. Among 

 my list are the snowdrops, single and 

 double; the crocuses, daffodils, nar- 

 cissus, hyacinths. I have found all 

 these good winter bloomers, if potted 

 in the fall and put into the cellar. 

 Tulips i will not recommend; living 

 rooms are too warm for them. 



The Chinese primroses or primulas 

 are almost constant bloomers. By all 

 means have two varieties at least of 

 these admirable plants. 



Oxalis ortgiesi, a native of Brazil, 

 is a choice plant. A dozen bulbs in a 

 hanging basket, an eight-inch size, will 

 be perfectly gorgeous in bud and 

 bloom, producing hundreds of flowers. 

 The bulbs should be rested in the 

 summer for winter flowering. 



The amaryllis is a- beautiful plant. 

 It is said to have but one rival, and 

 that is the lily. Even with this queen 

 of flowers it may vie for regal honors. 

 These bulbs commonly have their rest 

 in November, December and January. 



When they begin to show signs of new 

 life they come into flower in an in- 

 credibly short time. 



Rex begonias give a wide range of 

 beauty. Those who admire begonias 

 try the three varieties, Grandis, Clem- 

 entina and Louise Erdody. Care should 

 be taken not to wet the leaves or 

 stalk of the plant when watering. 



Crassula perfoliata claims a share 

 of our attention. Although its foliage 

 is rather coarse, it has beautiful spikes 

 of star-shaped flowers, white as the 

 drifting snow. They form a fltting 

 crown for the brow of the dying year, 

 cold December. 



The cyclamen is another winter 

 plant, pretty in foliage and flower. 

 There are other pot plants we cannot 

 now mention for want of room. One 

 secret of success with window plants 

 is in proper watering. Too much wa- 

 ter is just as deleterious as too little. 

 Good soil is essential, sunlight is most 

 desirable, but proper watering can 

 make or mar the beauty of plants. 



Nebraska. Haeriet W. Leightox, 



PARLOR PLANTS 



I have had a great deal of admira- 

 tion bestowed on my collection of 

 plants for winter every season, and I 

 think no flner lot can be seen in ex- 

 pensive homes even. 



I have been so discouraged with the 

 common, spindling plants usually car- 

 ried through our long, tedious winters 

 that I feel confldent in saying I have 

 found a collection that will give uni- 

 versal satisfaction. 



We can have flowers in winter as 

 well as summer if one is only careful 

 in making a choice. Keep the house 

 warm and air moist. A common fault 

 amateurs are apt to make is to keep 

 the air too dry. A tiny kettle kept 

 on the stove corrects all that. I have 

 a south bay window which is the 

 nicest place for plants, although I used 

 a common window formerly and had 

 good success by just putting up a row 



