January 19, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
48 
|L . 
SEASONABLE PLANTS AND 
FLOWERS. 
-X- 
A t no time of the year is the decorating of apartments with 
plants and cut flowers of so much importance as at the present 
season, when everything out of doors is dull and colourless, and 
when it is all the more needful to have rooms as bright and cheer¬ 
ful looking as possible. There is now little difficulty in procuring 
suitable material. So many plants are adapted for the purpose, 
and the cultural details are also generally so well understood, that, 
paradoxical as it may seem, the chief drawback in many cases 
appears to be in the production of too many things. In most 
private establishments the glass erections are not so overwhelmingly 
extensive as to allow one to grow flowers at discretion ; con¬ 
sequently, where a long winter season has to be supplied with 
plants and flowers there is not much (if any) room to spare for 
the growing of anything which is not strictly useful. Happily 
the most useful is also the ornamental, "so that in growing a 
few plants extensively one produces much beauty without losing 
the useful. 
Anyone who has a number of living rooms to furnish with 
flowers will know how they vary in adaptability. Some rooms 
are so dark and hot that a few days, at the longest, destroy the 
majority of plants and flowers. Other apartments so well meet 
the requirements of vegetable life that both plants and flowers 
last for very long periods without requiring to be changed. There 
is also a certain elasticity about the plants themselves which cause 
them to stand for a longer or shorter period, according to the 
condition they may be in. One point well worth considering is to 
study the kind of plants suited for certain rooms, and as far as 
possible to use these alone. Generally a distinction in the kind of 
plants or flowers employed in different apartments is commend¬ 
able, inasmuch as it does away with any sameness in the decoration 
of the house as a whole. 
In the details of watering plants it is necessary to exercise 
judgment. In some cases isolated plants may stand for several 
days and not require water. In other instances plants will require 
watering every morning, and where heated pipes run close past any 
plants it will be found necessary to give water oftener still. 
Taking the last mentioned case first, the best method is to place 
the pot in a saucer, ornamental or otherwise, and each morning to 
fill this saucer with water. For several years past I have made a 
rule to apply warm water to all plants in apartments. If the soil 
is dry warm water passes very rapidly through every portion, and 
there is no danger whatever of over-watering. Tulips and other 
soft-growing plants become dry much more quickly at this season 
than later in the year, when less fire heat is needed in rooms ; and 
for the same reason it will be found that the stems of cut flowers 
just now absorb water out of the vases much more quickly. A 
good plan is to cut the flowers the day before they are wanted and to 
stand them in water until the next morning. By this method the 
stems absorb less water after they have been arranged. 
I have seen many ways of arranging flowers, and several 
methods recommended for the keeping them quite fresh as long 
as possible. But so far I have found nothing better than pure 
water. But while that is so it is remarkable that assistants have 
invariably to be taught to keep the receptacles clean. If the 
flowers are fresh when cut, the receptacles clean, and the water 
also clear and pure, no better means of keeping flowers fresh can 
No. 656.—VoL. XXVI., Third Series. 
be had. An easy way to clean dirty glasses and earthenware vases 
will be found in the use of a little coarse sand amongst lukewarm 
water. The sand makes them absolutely clean. I have tried 
switches, ranges, cloths, and sponges, but not one of these is so 
good, so simple, and withal so efficient as coarse sand. Another 
thing worth mentioning with regard to cut flowers is this ; flowers 
cut with long stems, especially if the lower portion of the stem is 
hard, do not stand good so long as those 'cut with short stems. 
Therefore it is a saving method to arrange flowers at this season 
with as short stems as possible. With Callas this does not matter, 
but with other flowers the above remark applies. 
Having said so much about routine, the plants and flowers to be 
used have now to be considered. The number of plants suitable 
for general employment in the everyday embellishment of apart¬ 
ments at this season of the year are not numerous. There are, of 
course. Palms ; Kentias, Cocos flexuosus, Areca Baueri, Chamse- 
doreas, Rhapis flabelliformis are the sorts in everyday use, and for 
special occasions Latania borbonica, Phoenix dactylifera. Cocos 
Weddelliana, and Thrinax elegans are sorts most in demand. 
Bamboos are also good ; Metake and nigra the two sorts I prefer. 
The latter is quite hardy and may be used along with Aspidistras 
in the very worst position. Pandanus Veitchi is very good. It 
stands well, and makes one of the best vase plants we have. 
Very pretty also is Phrynium variegatnm, but this does not stand 
harsh treatment. However, for special occasions, along with 
Crotons and Drac^nas with coloured leaves, it is worth attention. 
The common Ficus elastica is of the greatest value. Good plants 
should be at least 4 or 5 feet in height and in 6-inch pots. The 
variegated form is equally amenable to the discipline of house 
furnishing, and it is very much superior. We have in constant use 
several plants of both of these. Plants of Asparagus plumosus raised 
from seed twelve months previously are capital for grouping; so 
also is the common Maidenhair Fern, a plant which stands exceed¬ 
ingly well, and one which always pleases. All required for room 
decoration must have finished growth in a cool airy bouse without 
much atmospheric moisture. Treated thus it is wonderful how 
well and how long the plants remain in good condition even in 
unsuitable apartments. 
Plants in flower include Tulips, which have been in good con¬ 
dition for several weeks past. The scarlet Due Van Thol is by far 
the best. I have tried several forms, but not one comes up to this 
for early work. Then Lily of the Valley is indispensable just now. 
This is quite easy to have in good condition. Of Hyacinths 
Charles Dickens, Norma, La Tour d’Auvergne, and Homerus should 
be grown. Cyclamens are very good for house work. Buttons’ 
“ Butterfly ” (white) is, I think, quite the best I have yet seen for 
this purpose. Very useful also, though common, are Marguerites. 
Plants rooted in early summer and kept rather dry during winter 
flower fairly well, and stand the heat of rooms much better 
than if they had been grown in a warmer and moist condition. 
I like Zonal Pelargoniums very much for this purpose. If the 
plants are changed every week they keep for a long time in good 
condition. In the way of colour—whether in pink, white, blush, 
or shades, or red—nothing can be better. Of double varieties F. V. 
Raspail, Mens. Bruant (soft scarlet), and Her mine (white) are, 
I think, the best. Of singles there is an endless variety. Constance, 
Lily, Rev. H. Harris, Sissie, Brilliant, Stanley White, and Henry 
Jacoby are varieties which we have had in good condition all 
through the winter. Callas are at all seasons most acceptable ; 
just now they are specially so. They do in any position, and if 
properly treated the same plants flower throughout the season. 
Chrysanthemums are now getting over, but this year they have 
been less difficult to secure than in most year-s. Miss Mary 
Anderson, Avalanche, Peter the Great, Guernsey Nugget, Princess 
Teck we find specially suited for late use. 
Orchids are generally employed for parties alone—such sorts, 
for example, as Odontoglossum Alexandrie, 0. Rossi majus, and 
No. 2312.—VoL. LXXXVIIL, Old Series. 
