GOOD PLANTS FOR THE IlVNBOll . 



773 



of narcissus are easily bloomed in window culture, es- 

 pecially the Chinese sacred narcissus, which in freedom 

 of bloom exceeds all others. Allium Xeapolitanuin , like 

 freesias, increase very rapidly in pot culture. They 

 give large heads of white flowers, and the grower will 

 soon have an embarrassment orf riches in the shape of 

 bulbs. 



Cvtltniit-n PL-rsiciini is one of the most satisfactory of 

 window plants. The bulbs or corms should be planted 

 in pots not more than twice the diameter of the bulb, as 

 they dislike over-potting. Set the bulb I'u and not in 

 the soil, only covering the roots with soil. Until growth 

 begins, great care must be taken not to get too wet, and 

 no water at any time must be poured on the top of the 

 bulb, as water standing on the flat-topped corms will 

 cause the flower buds to decay. Many amaryllis make 

 very satisfactory plants for the window in early spring, 

 especially those of the Johnsonii type. These bulbs are 

 better if never entirely dried off. Keep them in pots, 

 and in summer plunge the pots in the soil in open sun- 

 shine and allow them to take their chances. In autumn 

 remove to a light cellar and keep the pots only barely 

 moist, bringing them to the window as the blossom buds 

 appear on the sides of the bulbs. In North Carolina 

 these bulbs are treated just as other hardy bulbs, and 

 are allowed to remain in the open ground, where the 

 clumps increase in size from year to year and make a 

 magnificent display. But in any climate where it is too 

 cold to leave cannas, dahlias and gladiolus out, it is best 

 to grow amaryllis in pots only. Our native Auiayyllis 

 Atainasco, which makes such a show in every moist spot 

 here in spring, is also easily grown in pots, placing three 

 or four in a six-inch pot. 



In the way of greenhouse shrubs, the oleander has 

 long been a favorite, but the newer sorts, particularly 

 the semi-double A^. Madonni, vax . i;randi_floi-a , pure white 

 and profuse, should be more grown. In abutilons, too, 

 we now have varieties of compact habit and free bloom- 

 ing qualities that are greatly better than the old weedy 

 sorts. One of the best of these is the golden yellow sort 

 called Golden Bells. This is of dwarf habit, and -very 

 profuse in the production of its golden bells. Another 

 dwarf-growing variety adds the charm of variegated fol- 

 iage ; this is Eclipse. Abutilon Darunnii \s also well 

 suited to house culture. Window gardeners are very 

 commonly advised not to try the culture of hard-wooded 

 greenhouse shrubs like the camelia, but some of the 

 finest specimens of camelias I have seen were in the 

 hands of women gardeners, who, by attention to their 

 wants, always had fine blooms and good plants. 



The chief points to observe in the house culture of 

 camelias is to avoid a high temperature in winter, keep 

 the leaves clean of dust by sponging them, and avoid 

 injury to the roots by over-watering or extreme drought. 

 The pots should be plunged in a bed of coal ashes in a 

 moderately shaded place out-doors in summer. After 

 the bloom is over in spring, encourage a rapid growth 

 by giving a warmer spot and more sunshine, and an 

 occasional dose of lime water. The lime water drives 



out earth-worins and encourages the growth of camelias 

 in a wonderful manner. Remember that during winter 

 a few degrees of frost will do less harm to a camelia 

 than a high temperature, which will cause it to drop i'.s 

 buds. Most of the red and pink colored sorts are more 

 hardy and better growers than the double white camelia. 

 The Cajiielia Japonica is nearly a hardy plant, and should 

 be treated accordingly. In the latitude of Raleigh, on 

 dry, sandy soil, it thrives finel}' in open air culture, 

 though at times exposed to a temperature of 15° above 

 zero. Some of our hardy shrubs, particularly Deii/zia 

 oraii/is, if lifted and potted in the fall and kept in a 

 cool, light cellar until a few weeks before the flowers are 

 wanted, will bloom finely in the sitting-room window. 

 A very attractive Easter display can be made by any 

 women by having some Deiitzia gracilis potted in au- 

 tumn, and bringing them into a warm room about five 

 or six weeks before Easter, so as to give them time to 

 develop their pretty white bells in profusion. 



Violets can easily be had in cold climates in winter by 

 setting some pot-grown plants in a roomy window box, 

 in a sunny window of a room where no fire is kept. 

 Cover the box at night with an old blanket to prevent 

 hard freezing, and give all the sunlight possible. Or 

 what is better, a little frame covered with an old window 

 sash in a sunny place in the back yard, carefully covered 

 at night, will give a great supply of flowers. The plants 

 used should have been grown in pots during the summer 

 and planted in the frame in September, and the sash 

 kept off until frosts come. I have known many women 

 in the city to get large supplies of violets from their 

 back-yards by a careful use of a cold-frame. Not only 

 sweet violets, but pansies can be grown in the same way, 

 and when frosts are not too severe, mignonette and can- 

 dytuft can also be grown thus. 



A large winter supply of white flowers can be had 

 from a little frame in a back yard planted in spring with 

 the perennial candytuft, Ihcris Gibrallarita . Allow it to 

 grow all summer and completely mat over the bed. 

 Late in fall put a sash over it, giving plenty of air on 

 sunny days and cover from frost at night, and it will 

 bloom all winter through. In North Carolina it blooms 

 all winter in the open air. By potting strong plants 

 early in the fall, these will also bloom well in a sunny 

 window in-doors. 



One of the most showy plants for Christmas bloom is 

 the old Liiiiiiii /rigyniiin [JxeiirtoarJ/ia fi igyud), the three- 

 styled yellow flax. Small plants of this set out in the 

 garden in spring and pinched into shape during the 

 growing season, may be lifted in the fall and potted for 

 the window. They will, by Christmas, be a complete 

 mass of large, yellow, saucer-shaped flowers. This is 

 a very old plant, but much neglected of late years. It 

 is easy to grow, and very showy when in bloom. Many 

 hardy herbaceous plants, particularly the dwarf-growing 

 campanulas, can be treated in the same manner. Among 

 handsome pot shrubs for house culture, many of the 

 myrtles are very attractive, and I have seen them in very 

 handsome condition in window gardens. Eight or ten 



