234 WINDOW GARDENINfi. 
Indica alba, white. 
* Fielden, white ; very early. 
* Minerva, scarlet ; profuse. 
Models de Marque, splendid form ; rose. 
Grande Dutchesse de Bode. 
Iceryana, white, striped with rose. 
Perfection, rose; good form. 
Vittata crispiflora. 
Vittata, variegated. 
* Punctata, splendid, variegated. 
* Punctata omnicolor, early bloomer. 
* Narcissiflora plena, six weeks in bloom. 
President, scarlet. 
Tlie Daphne. 
Of all woody plants that are suitable for parlor culture, the Daphne, especially 
Daphne odorata, deserves the first mention, for it flourishes under the most 
adverse circumstances ; patientlj'' putting forth group after group of its dark 
glossy evergreen leaves, each group through the winter months wearing right 
ro3^ally its cluster of pearly blossoms, whose delicate throats constantly distil a 
most delicious fragrance. 
In foliage this shrub greatly resembles the laurel, and hence bears the name 
of that beautiful maiden who being beloved by Apollo, but not favoring his suit, 
besought the gods for aid in escaping him, and in answer to her prayers was 
changed into a laurel-tree. 
Though the Daphne is capable of enduring heat and dryness, it grows most 
luxuriantly in a cool, moist atmosphere ; and it should be frequently syringed 
with tepid water, its leaves kept clean with water by washing them often with a soft 
sponge. Give it a soil of garden earth mixed loosely with a little vegetable mould or 
stable refuse and a small quantity of sand. In May prune it closely to make it grow 
tall and symmetrical; at the same time repot it, and then keep the plant in the 
shade with slight watering till September; then give it sunshine and water 
freely. In early October take it to the parlor. Of the prunings make new 
plants by immersing the stems in a bottle of water and keeping the bottle in the 
sunlight till it is filled with white fibrous roots; these roots are very tender, and 
wlien they are placed in soil care must be taken not to injure them. The young 
plant must be kept under a bell-glass or an inverted tumbler for a fortnight, 
with a scanty sprinkling of tepid water every morning. It should have the sun 
three hours, at least, each day; but make the air of the room moist and lot it 
not rise above 58° by day or 45° by night, if you would promote its rapid and 
healthy growth. It blooms almost constantly from December to the last of 
March. 
The Abutilon. 
A beautiful parlor tree is the Abutilon, with its maple-like foliage, and its bell 
flowers of gold and crimson. It needs a light sandy loam, for if the soil is too 
