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Cacti as House Plants.—I would like to have 
some one give instructions as to the care and treatment 
required for Cacti; when to water, and how often, etc. 
I know in the countries where they flourish spontane¬ 
ously there is a dry and a wet, or rainy, season. N ow 
it is, and has been for a long time, a question with me 
whether with us they should be kept dry all summer, 
and given water freely in winter, or the reverse. 
Waterloo, Ind. 
Mrs. Sarah S. Winslow. 
Answer .—Cacti require the least care of any house 
plant. Should be kept comparatively dry, except 
when growing, then water freely. In their native 
country it is all wet or all dry. A poor, sandy soil 
seems to suit them best. 
Cape Jessamine.—Will some one tell me through 
the columns of the Cabinet how to take care of a 
Cape Jessamine, so as to have it blossom ? 
Marlboro’, Mass. Mrs. W. S. Frost. 
Ansiver .—Florists plant the Cape Jessamine out in 
May or June, and take up about the 1st of October. 
In potting, use a good rich loam, water moderately 
until they become well established, then give heat, and 
water liberally. The red spider is their greatest en¬ 
emy. The only way to get rid of this pest is to syringe 
thoroughly every day. In most cases of failure, the 
red spider is the cause. 
Japonica.—I have had a Japonica for three or four 
years, and it has never blossomed. Can you tell me 
why it does not ? Some florists say it must be bedded 
first. The term I don’t just understand. How is it 
to be bedded, what with ? I will enclose a leaf; please 
tell me the name, as there are several different kinds of 
Japonicas. Is there any difference between garden 
Hyacinths and those for the house? I have had a 
Calla for more than two years, and have tried every 
means to make it blossom without success. Should 
plants kept in the cellar be watered when dry ? * 
Answer .—Japonicas rarely ever succeed as a house 
plant. Your best plan would be to give it over to a 
florist to bring into flower, and to care for after flower¬ 
ing. You will find an excellent article on growing it 
in “Window Gardening.” The only difference be¬ 
tween garden Hyacinths and those for the house, is 
that stronger and named sorts are generally selected 
for house culture, to secure the desired color, and to 
produce finer spikes of bloom than are generally de¬ 
sired out of doors. If you will refer to our back num¬ 
bers you will find particular instructions for treatment 
of the Calla. Plants at rest require but little, if any, 
water. 
Bouvardia.—Will some of your many readers tell 
me how to manage a Bouvardia ? I have one I got 
last fall, and it has done nothing but go backward. It 
is in the same earth in which it came from the florist. 
The soil is poor. Must I change the earth ? * 
Answer .—The Bouvardia should have a light, rich 
soil. If grown in a pot it must be large, to give plenty 
of root room. It will not flower except in very warm, 
moist atmosphere. It may safely be called the most 
unsuitable plant for house-culture. 
Crassula.—1. I bought a Crassula Perfoliata last 
fall for winter blooming, but it has not blossomed, 
though it is growing finely. Can you tell me the cause ? 
Does it need different treatment than other plants to 
blossom ? 2. I got a Poinsettia Puleherrima at the 
same time, but it does not grow very well. Indeed, I 
can hardly say that it grows any. Will you please 
to tell me what treatment it needs ? Does it need 
much water, or should it be kept rather dry? Tell 
me what kind of soil, etc., it needs. 3. Will you tell 
me the name of the plant of which I enclose a sprig, 
and the treatment it needs ? I have one that I fear I 
shall lose. It will grow for a while, and then the 
leaves will become dry and wither away. I have but 
a very little left. What can I do to save it? S. B. 
Answer. —Your Crassula, very likely, requires 
age. All the house leek family are slow to come into 
flower. If it grows well it will come into bloom in 
good time. The Poinsettia is another of those plants 
that is homesick and despondent away from the green¬ 
house, and should never go from home.. Not half the 
professionals manage it well. If wanted for the con¬ 
servatory, give it to a florist ten months in the year, 
and enjoy it only when in flower The enclosed slip is 
Lycopodium Denticulatum. It grows readily in any 
moist, warm, shady situation. It will do nothing but 
die if in a dry atmosphere. 
Rapid-growing Climbers.—What wall make the 
most rapid growth to cover a summer-house? Also, 
how to grow Coxcomb ? 1 have had two, but could 
never get them to bloom till the frost killed them. 
What soil do they grow best in, and what moisture 
should they have ? A Constant Header. 
Ansiver. —Bignonia Grandiflora is one of the best 
creepers for summer-houses. Coxcombs grow well in 
any rich soil. They should be started in a hot-bed to 
be in advance of frost. 
Lawn Baskets.—Please tell me what plants and 
vines—running and trailing—would be suitable to put 
in the flower basket for the lawn, described in the 
December number of the Cabinet. I have a Bridal 
Rose which keeps sprouting up from the roots. How 
should I manage it ? Let the sprouts grow or keep 
them cut off? Dan. D. Lion. 
Answer. —For a very fine basket or vase on the 
lawn put a Dracaena in the centre, Ferns, Farfugium 
Grande, Var Hydrangea, Panicum Plicatum. Linaria 
makes a beautiful border, as it will in a short time 
completely cover the outside. The German Ivy does 
nicely for the same place. A cheap basket can be 
made to look well filled with Geraniums, blotched 
Petunias and native Ferns, with Linaria to hang over 
the rim. Let the Bridal Rose grow without cutting 
until it is larger than wanted. 
Geraniums.—Mary A. Pease, Oxford, Mass., wants 
to know what she will do to make her Geraniums blos¬ 
som. She has several nice ones, but they do not blos¬ 
som. Also, an Agapanthus Lily, which is nearly two 
years old, and lias never blossomed. What will she do 
to it? 
Answer. —Plant Geraniums out in a poor soil, or 
plunge the pot. They will not bloom as well in rich 
soil as in poor. Running all to wood is the result of 
too good living. Keep the Agapanthus another year. 
It is best to keep it growing during the winter, though 
it may be kept dormant, when it will not freeze. Give 
it plenty of water during the summer. The pot should 
be set in a tub of water, say three inches deep, about 
the first of July, and let remain there until after flow¬ 
ering. 
Liliiim Auratum.—I wish you would inform me 
what was the matter with my Auratums last summer. 
One bulb threw up one flower-stalk five and a half 
feet high, with eighteen buds; most of them grew to 
half size, then withered and fell off; another in the 
same bed threw up two flower-stalks three feet high, 
one with five the other with six buds—all of which 
opened finely—the blossoms measuring eight and nine 
inches in diameter. My other Japan Lilies and Tri- 
torna, in the same bed, did splendid, the latter having 
thirteen fine flower-stalks, between four and five feet 
high. It was its third season of flowering. We leave 
it out winters—protecting it only the same as our Ja¬ 
pan Lilies—which in this latitude (where the mercury 
falls 36° below zero) with good protection seem quite 
hardy. 
Evansville, Wis. Mrs. D. L. Mills. 
Answer. —There is but little the matter with your 
lilies, upon the whole. They rarely ever do as well. 
Yery likely a worm at the root caused the buds of one 
to drop. 
Coboea Scandens.—Permit me to ask if there is 
any special treatment required to secure seed from Co¬ 
boea Scandens. A number of ladies in this vicinity 
have been unable to get any seed whatever from this 
beautiful climber. 
Savannah. M. J. Alderman. 
Answer. —All that is required to make the Coboea 
Scandens seed is a long dry season. An old plant set 
in a southern exposure will generally seed freely. 
Ground Ivy.—I would like to inquire if there is any 
one who can tell me how to destroy Ground Ivy. It 
has spread nearly all over our yard. Have tried pull¬ 
ing it up, but the roots are so thick that we cannot 
kill it out that way. A. R. Yocom. 
Answer. —Keep on pulling. 
Bulbs.—I would like to ask a question about bulbs, 
Narcissus and Jonquils. I have some beautiful ones 
this winter. Will they do to force another year, or are 
they used up, like Hyacinths ? I wish some one would 
tell me the best plants for the house ; those that will 
bear the dry air from the furnace. 
Mrs. M. Plumstead, Jr. 
Answer. —Bulbs that have been forced do not do 
well the second year, as they do not ripen well in pots. 
They may be planted in the open border and do very 
well. For forcing we should advise getting newly im¬ 
ported bulbs. Full descriptive lists of plants for house 
culture, with cultural instructions, may be found in 
“Window Gardening.” 
Gloxinia.—Can you tell me, through your Floral 
Cabinet, what treatment to give Gloxinia seedlings 
that are just coming? What I mean is, the after- 
treatment, time of rest, etc. I also wish to ask whether 
Cyclamen can be made to rest all winter, and have 
their growing and blooming season at a time when 
they require no artificial heat ? C. M. 
Answer. —Gloxinia seedlings should bo kept grow¬ 
ing on as fast as possible until after blooming, when 
they should have a season of rest. The natural season 
of rest of the Cyclamen is summer, and they cannot be 
induced to change habits. At least, we have not been 
able to get good blooms except in winter and spring. 
Inquiries.—1. On digging my Gladiola bulbs last 
fall, I found around the old bulb a number of very 
small bulbs, about the size of beans. What ought to 
be done with them ? 2. My Tuberose bulb was sur¬ 
rounded by small new bulbs. Should tney be broken 
off when dug, or when planted next spring ? 3. How 
are Bouvardias propagated? Mrs. T. F. Wright. 
Answer. —1. Plant in early spring, the same as peas, 
and, in good soil, they will make.bulbs that will flower 
next season. 2. Leave the offsets on the Tuberose 
bulbs until the time to plant out, then plant in a deep, 
rich soil, and, if good sets, they will flower the follow¬ 
ing season. 3. From root cuttings. Take pieces of 
root an inch long, put in a box or pot of good mould, 
j and they will make young plants in a very short time. 
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