THE SELECTION, ARRANGEMENT AND CULTURE OF HOUSE- PLANTS. 603 



■window in the long hall, where the temperature ranged 

 from forty to sixty, and sometimes as high as seventy 

 degrees. In about two months from the time of hous- 

 ing, fourteen large and perfect clusters of pearl-white 

 lilacs rejoiced our eyes. These blossoms were far more 

 delicate in odor than out-door lilacs, and made a 

 delightful atmosphere of spring-time in the homely old 

 farm-house which was then our dwelling place. We 

 had, too, the novel pleasure of suprising our friends 

 with clusters of fresh lilac in February. 



French florists, who give much attention to lilac- 

 forcing, lay great stress upon the necessity of keeping 

 the bush in the dark in order to bleach the flowers — 

 white lilacs being most marketable, and the common 

 purple lilac most available for forcing on account of its 

 superior vitality. Fortunately I stumbled upon the 

 right treatment, and mine seemed to come white of their 

 own sweet will. 



The odorous sacred lily of China, we all, no doubt, grow- 

 yearly in water, with a bottom layer or two of pebbles. It 

 is well to make incisions lengthwise of the bnlb with a 

 sharp knife before planting, and there should be lumps 

 of charcoal among the pebbles to keep the water sweet. 

 A single bulb, thus treated, will give one seven flower- 

 stalks. That old-fashioned plant, the calla, though less 

 common in our homes than it was twenty years ago, if 

 grown in an artistic vase, and given an entire window, 

 is beautiful. 



It has been said of the calla that it needs water like a 

 mill, heat like a furnace, food like an army, and abso- 

 lute rest during summer. "Keep its feet in water" 

 says the florist. In its native habitat it is in water to the 

 depth of a foot or more, in broad open sunlight, and in 

 soil as rich as decayed vegetation can make it. Soon 

 after flowering-season the waters subside, and the soil 

 becomes as dry as it is possible to get in the tropics. 

 Here, nature teaches us how to cultivate the calla. 

 The canna thrives admirably as a house-plant, and has 

 a happy way of accommodating itself to circumstances, 

 which makes it especially desirable for decorative effect. 

 In a sunny window it will flower all winter if given 

 abundant heat. In a north window of the same room 

 it will give one beautiful foliage, and it will, "at a 

 pinch," take a back seat and hold its own in the 

 shade, grouped with the statuary and screens, where, 

 with its large, handsome leaves, it will impart to the 

 drawing-room a certain air of oriental languor and mag- 

 nificence. The canna should be lifted early in Septem- 

 ber and placed in rich loam, in a large, well-shaped pot 

 or vase, and kept for a week or two in the open, in par- 

 tial shade, and well-watered. It must be carefully 

 housed before the lightest frost appears. Its vigor and 

 beauty are increased by the addition of wood-soot to the 

 soil. 



All the begonias thrive well as house-plants. My 

 experience with the new and choice varieties has not 

 been sufficient to enable me to give valuable advice in 

 regard to their culture. I had formerly supposed that a 

 north window might suit a begonia. It was a mistaken 



impression. The plant, I find, needs much sunlight 

 and a warm atmosphere. It must be regularly and 

 carefully watered, and I have found it best to give the 

 small-leaved begonia its water from the saucer. The 

 smooth-leaved begonias are said to affect a Sunday 

 morning cup of coffee by way of gloss to their foliage. 

 I have seen a superb one thus treated, but have never 

 myself tried the experiment. The plant likes an occa- 

 sional watering with soot tea while making its summer 

 growth in the garden. 



The coleus, as a window plant, affords fine color 

 effects : but the plant is too tender to be agreeable for 

 house-culture. It requires an invariably high tempera- 

 ture, a fair amount of sunlight, regular moisture, and 

 very rich soil. This given it will grow superbly ; but if 

 overtaken, in some unguarded hour, with the slightest 

 chill, it loses its beauty and vigor. The house coleus is 

 almost sure to become infested with mealy-bugs. These 

 may be picked off, and thereafter the plant should be 

 given a careful wash of kerosene water, which must be 

 repeated as often as the pests appear. The formula for 

 this spray, which is used for roses at Mt. Auburn, was 

 thus given by the late Mr. Collins, head gardener at the 

 cemetery. It is simply one wine-glass of kerosene oil to 

 a gallon of water. 



Ferns, as decorative plants, are beautiful and easily 

 grown, though all do not succeed with the maiden-hair, 

 All ferns should have an abundance of light, but not too 

 much sun. I have found an eastern exposure the very 

 best possible. Ferns should be placed in the full light 

 of a window, given a high temperature and watered 

 evenly, but not too much. The soil should be partially 

 renewed annually, and care should be taken with the 

 roots, which do not like disturbance : especially is this 

 to be observed with the maiden-hair, which, if possible, 

 should ntver be transplanted, and should have its stated 

 period of entire rest, during which it should be kept 

 almost dry. The fuchsia is, properly, an out-door 

 bloomer, but with care can be brought to flower in win- 

 ter. To this end, pinch back in summer ; and in Sep- 

 tember house, and place m a north or east window. 

 Give much light, water freely with warm water, and 

 give liquid manure and soot tea about twice a week. If 

 given an entire window both flower and foliage will be 

 superb, with this treatment. Time would fail me to 

 enumerate all the desirable plants for house-culture ; 

 there is the orange tree, the costly palm, the delicate 

 asparagus, the achyranthes, anthericum and curculigo ; 

 the aspidistra, cyclamen and many more equally beauti- 

 ful and practicable ; and last, but not least, the inevit- 

 able rubber-plants, a little stiff and heavy, perhaps, 

 but as a single plant decidedly effective. 



In arranging a table or stand of mixed plants, care 

 should be taken to give each its proper growing place 

 without marring the general effect. Heliotrope, that 

 ardent sun-lover, should have the front row, close to 

 the window-glass. Beside it should sit a begonia or 

 two, and some flowering geraniums. A petunia and 

 a bridal-rose might come next — the petunia twined 



