152 
The Garden Magazine, November, 1920 
spectabilis and Spanish Iris may be planted at the same time: 
they will lie dormant until February, when they will throw up 
young growths which will furnish material for cutting long before 
those out doors have started to grow. 
The Geranium must never be forgotten. It is one of the most 
satisfactory flowering plants to brighten the greenhouse during 
the dull dark days, grown along in five or six inch pots, with the 
flower trusses kept pinched off until the Chrysanthemum season 
is nearly over, and then allowing all flower scapes to develop, 
will give nice flowering plants at Christmas. They may well 
be accommodated on light narrow shelves in a temperature of 
around Fifty degrees at 
night, with a fairly dry 
atmosphere. 
Primulas (i.e. mala- 
coides, obconica, sinen- 
sis,) Cinerarias, and Cal- 
ceolarias purchased now 
in small pots may be potted 
into larger sizes and grown 
for decorative purposes. 
“Two Birds With One 
Stone” 
W ITH steady cold 
weather, which 
means more fire heat in 
the greenhouse, it is just 
as well to make the most 
of this extra heat by utiliz- 
ing the propagating bench 
to the limit of its capacity. 
Now is the time to get 
root cuttings for the big 
bush Chrysanthemums so 
that their plants may have 
the longest possible time 
in which to develop a vig- 
orous root system. Ger- 
aniums and other bedding 
plants may be propagated 
continuously as cuttings 
are available. Margue- 
rites, and Begonias root 
well with an abundance 
of bottom heat and there 
could not be a better 
time to root Ivy and Vinca. The best substitute for the 
Azalea as an Easter plant is likely to be the Bougainvillea 
and plants should be purchased now from the specialists 
who grow them. They will do nicely in a carnation house 
temperature, and should be kept somewhat on the dry 
side so as to allow them to rest after their season of 
growth. Do not allow them to wilt, however, or the leaves 
will fall off. 
The winter-flowering Begonias which are among the most ef- 
fective of all indoor bloomers require a long season of growth, 
and if it is desired to have them during the coming months 
plants in flowering pots must be purchased as soon as possible. 
From now on they do not require shading. If early flowers are 
desired the flower buds should not be removed after this time. 
It does not benefit them to have the leaves drenched at each 
watering so be careful to apply the water under the leaves, 
and not over them. Begonias Glorie de Lorraine and Cincin- 
nati are perhaps the best known of the winter-flowering types 
and while the former flowers somewhat earlier still the latter 
wall stand, and actually does better in a cooler temperature. 
Mrs. Petersen is a handsome dark colored form with bronze foli- 
age. Glorie du Chatelaine is the peer of all. Whether in a 
two-inch or six-inch pot the plants will be in bloom from now on 
all through the winter. Shift into large pots if they are yet in 
the smaller sizes. Propagation of these Begonias may be 
started now from leaf cuttings, but in the case of Chatelaine, 
the soft shoots from below the flowering stems root most 
readily. 
The Indoor Vegetable Garden 
B UT the material side of things need not be sacrificed to the 
aesthetic, both may be given attention and space at the 
same time. For example, in the cool house Lettuce, Radishes, 
Spinach, green Onions, 
Parsley, and Beets are 
all possible. In the same 
house and under the same 
conditions we may have 
Asparagus, Rhubarb, and 
French Endive under the 
benches. But for an 
early crop of Rhubarb, 
however, it is better to 
place the roots, after they 
have been thoroughly 
frozen, in a warmer house, 
and if brought in at this 
time it is quite reason- 
able to expect a mess of 
Rhubarb at Christmas. 
Roots of French En- 
dive may be planted any 
time after they have been 
dug from the garden either 
directly under the benches, 
or in successive batches of 
a dozen or more in tubs, 
or boxes, and covered with 
six inches of light soil of 
sand. In an ordinary cool 
greenhouse temperature 
one may cut fine thick 
heads of snow-white 
salad in fifteen to twenty 
days. 
In the warm house 
where a night temperature 
of sixty to sixty-five de- 
grees can be maintained, 
sow String Beans, Bush 
Limas, Forcing Melons, Cucumbers, and Tomatoes. Mus- 
tard and Cress may be sown at intervals during the winter 
as it is required for the table. Roots of Mint and Tar- 
ragon useful for seasoning should be lifted before the ground 
freezes, put in flats and placed in a cool house, where they 
will soon start into growth. 
Mushrooms With or Without a Cellar 
M USHROOMS too are within the range of possibilities and 
one doesn’t need a specially built cellar. 1 hey will do as 
well under the greenhouse bench as elsewhere if other conditions 
are equal. Start collecting the horse droppings at once, and 
be sure they do not burn while being collected. Use water in 
moderate quantities frequently. In making up the bed make 
it a conical shape and tramp the manure hard — pound it down 
as hard as possible. After spawning do not be in too much 
of a hurry to put on the soil. Many failures begin right there. 
Some of the rank vapors may be retained by the layer of 
surface soil when it is put on too soon, with the result that 
when the mvcelium of the spawn begins to run it is 
killed. When w'ater is necessary use water that is the same 
temperature as the air of the house. 
THE RICH JOY OF VARIETY 
W ith a “range” of several different houses the gardener’s fancy 
mat’ be fed in all directions, and selected plants brought into a 
show house for their season. An aquarium is seen on the right 
