THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, July 28, 1857. 
petuals), which are eleven years old, began to set for 
seed pretty freely, but they are not old enough yet to 
ripen much seed. Perhaps at twenty or five-and-twenty 
all kinds would seed, and if so, what a world of flowers 
they would soon make ! D. Beaton. 
SHORT CULTURAL NOTES EOR WINDOW 
GARDENERS. 
These will bear reference to plants chiefly that have 
already been mentioned. 
Acacia, such as grandis , armata , &c.—The last named is 
much used in London as a window plant. They will thrive 
well in winter where the temperature is seldom below 38° 
and not often above 50° to 55°. They delight in fibry loam 
and a little peat. When done flowering they may be set on 
the balcony, or anywhere out of doors in summer where 
they will have plenty of water at the roots, and be frequently 
syringed overhead to keep the red spider and scale at a 
distance. If much exposed to the sun the pot should be 
shaded from it. 
Achimenes. —I introduce this tribe here because I have 
seen the old coccinea and the beautiful longijlora major, blue, 
and patens , crimson, doiDg well in a window in July and 
August. The scaly roots were kept in dry sand in saucers 
in a cupboard not far from a kitchen fire all the winter. 
The least damp and a temperature approaching the freezing 
point for any length of time will be sure to kill them. 
These began to vegetate about the middle of April. Eight 
or ten roots were placed in six-inch pots in rich sandy loam, 
and about two inches from the rim of the pots, the tubers 
being covered about half an inch. Before the shoots got to 
the top of the pot a pane of glass was placed across the 
pot: after that it was not needed. Plenty of moisture was 
given them ; but, instead of air being admitted at the bottom 
of the sash, a little was given at the top, and in bright sun¬ 
shine the plants were protected by a muslin blind. When 
the flowering was over and the growth began to decay the 
pots were set out of doors in a warm, sunny spot, and little 
or no water given. When wholly decayed the roots were 
taken out and placed in the sand for the winter. 
Ageratum. —For windows cuttings may be struck under a 
handlight or bellglass in summer or autumn, and kept at 
from 35° to 45° in winter, and the size of your plant after 
the new year will soon depend on the pot room and head 
room you can give it. 
Aloe. —Such kinds as incurva , tenuifolia, aristata, &c., are 
suitable for a window, especially where other succulents are 
grown. Sandy loam with a little lime rubbish suits them 
well. The chief care is to give little or no water in winter, 
and a temperature ranging from 35° to 45° and upwards. 
Aloysia citriodoea, or Lemon-scented Verbena. —Whoever 
enjoys a “ smile of thank you very much ” from a fair lady 
should be able to present a twig or a plant of this Sweet 
Verbena as it used to be called. Some of its admirers 
grieve when its leaves fade in the autumn, and dismiss it as 
gone and dead, when it is just as natural for it to lose its 
leaves as for an Ash or Elder to lose theirs every season. Few 
prized things are more easily kept. When the leaves have fallen 
it will stand anywhere, in garret, cellar, or stable, where frost 
cannot get much at it, and where the roots will be dry rather 
than wet. When it begins to bud about March and April 
it must be brought to the light of the window; then old 
pieces of the shoots strike nearly as well as Gooseberry 
cuttings, and will do so also if placed in a box in autumn, 
and covered up from the cold. Young shoots, when grown 
from the stems about two inches, strike freely in sand 
under a bellglass. Any common soil with good drainage 
will suit it. 
Anemone. —Seeds may be sown at any time. To have nice 
double ones early in spring plant the roots, or corms, in pots 
early in winter, and keep them in a cool, dark place until 
they appear, when they should be brought to the light and 
watered as they require it. A cool window suits them best. 
When done flowering water only as long as the foliage is 
green; then refrain, and dry and remove the roots, keeping 
them dry until next winter. 
Anomatheca cruenta. —This beautiful flowering bulb is 
just fitted for a window. Seeds sown one spring will bloom 
the following one and early summer. When fair-sized bulbs 
are procured they multiply so fast that they will chiefly be 
depended on. From six to a dozen of these bulbs should 
be placed in a six-inch pot in sandy loam, and covered 
about one inch or so. When the stems appear give light 
and water. The flower-stems average from a foot to nine 
inches in height. When done flowering curtail water, and 
as the foliage dies refrain altogether, and either allow the 
bulbs to remain in the pots in any out-of-the-way place 
secure from frost, or take them out and keep them in dry 
sand, replanting when they show signs of moving. 
Antirrhinum. —These are easily raised from seeds. Some 
of the best sorts, as Hendersonii, frequently grace a window. 
These are raised from cuttings, generally under a handlight, 
in sandy soil in June and July, potted off, and kept in 
small pots during the winter in a spare room where there 
is little or no fire, for much of that would draw and 
injure them. Early in spring the plants to be stopped, and 
shortly afterwards potted in larger pots in rich, mellow, 
sandy loam. 
Auriculas. —I just mention these because, if the plants 
can be kept airy, cool, and dryish in winter, they will bloom 
nicely in spring in a window where air can be given, where 
there is no great amount of fire, and where a window curtain 
or blind will keep off the too great force of the sun’s rays. 
A rich top dressing of loamy soil and weak manure waterings 
when growing and flowering will much improve them. 
Where a room is not regularly used by the family few things 
would beat these, with Polyanthuses and the double Prim¬ 
roses, in a window in spring. 
Azalea Indica alba will do pretty well to flower in May 
and June. When done flowering keep it close, and a little 
shaded with a curtain for a month; then move it outside, 
and it to a balcony or flower garden give it plenty of water, 
and shade the pot, but not the plant except for a few days 
at first, from the sun. The compost should be chiefly 
heath soil. 
Bulbs, such as Tulips, Jonquils, Narcissuses, and Hyacinths. 
-—Pot them as soon as you can receive them in autumn ; use 
light, sandy, rich soil; and place them so that most of the 
bulb is covered. Four-inch pots will generally be best, and 
of the smaller Jonquils and Tulips three bulbs may go in 
one of that size, and one Hyacinth and Narcissus. Set 
them in any shady place when potted, and if covered over 
with ashes several inches so much the better; a dark cup¬ 
board, where the soil will not be likely to get dry, will do 
very well. Before the stalks and leaves show themselves 
the pots will do best in the dark, and to do well the pots 
must be full of roots before the leaves or flower-stems show 
much; then expose them to light during the day, and for 
early ones move them to the chimney at night. A paper 
funnel, open at the point, placed over the pot will cause the 
stems of Hyacinths to rise more freely. A little weak 
manure water will be serviceable when growing. Those 
in glasses treat in the same manner. To avoid trouble 
I grew them likewise in pots until they got nearly to the 
flowering state; then turned the ball out, and moved all 
the earth from it by squeezing it gently between the hands 
in a pail of water, and then placed the roots in the glass. 
The oftener the water is changed the better, say once a day; | 
but it must be soft, and of the same temperature as the room. 
These bulbs are generally procured every year, and must be j 
so if, when done flowering, the pots are placed in any out-of- ' 
the-way corner. To succeed with them year after year j 
the leaves must be as carefully nourished as the flowers, 
watering them, and giving them a good growing position so 
long as they remain green, refraining from watering as the 
leaves decay, drying and ripening the bulbs, and afterwards 
putting them in drawers or cupboards until the autumn. 
Balm of Gilead ( Dracocephalum Canariense ).—This is a 
great favourite with many cottagers. It flourishes well in 
sandy loam. Cuttings strike freely when protected with a 
pane of glass over the pot. When done flowering it should 
be cleaned and pruned in to keep it somewhat bushy. 
Balsams. —These are deservedly great favourites. For the 
window the best time to sow is from the middle to the end 
of April. Choose a six-inch pot, and with drainage and soil 
let it be half filled with light sandy loam and leaf mould; 
then sow and slightly cover the seeds, placing a square of 
