148 
THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
pistils. In most flowers these organs show a consider¬ 
able degree of persistence after fertilization, or at least 
dry up only gradually. But in this species they separate 
by a joint near the base on the slightest touch, soon 
after the stigma has received the pollen. 
Although the innocent little white flowers of our 
species are not without their own attraction, the ‘-vine” 
itself, to our mind, presents the chief beauty. The 
Ipomcea Lacunosa is in this respect one of the most 
beautiful of all the American members of the genus. 
The angular, yet curving, outlines of the leaves accord 
well with the twining habit of the plant, and give a rich 
elegance to its slender growth. Those who are inclined 
to give a poetical interpretation to the actions of Nature, 
might see in the rich foliage a good reason why the 
flower is not so showy as in the other species. Nature was 
too much intent on the leaves to give much thought to the 
flower .—Native Flowers and Ferns of the United States. 
TALKS ABOUT FLOWERS. 
Under favorable conditions, seeds that were sown the 
first of April will be up and strong enough to transplant 
to thumb-pots by the middle or last of May. 
I use the same soil for this first potting, with the ad¬ 
dition of a little finely-pulverized old manure well 
mixed in before bringing to a scalding heat. 
Prick the seedlings out carefully and there will be no 
cessation of growth; do not keep too wet, or they will 
rot off close to the earthy Let them feel the sunshine 
some portions of the day, but do not set them too near 
the glass while they are tender, for they are easily 
scorched; turn them often, and as the weather gets 
warmer give them fresh air, for this will tend to harden 
them and make them grow more compact. 
When they have outgrown the thumb-pots, and are 
ready for another potting, give them fresh, unheated 
soil, with perhaps two parts loam to one of sand, and a 
reasonable amount of manure—just how much depends 
upon how rich the loam is naturally, but let it be under¬ 
dressed rather than made too rich. 
The shrubby Calceolarias are fine for bedding out in 
half-shady places, for they begin to flower when only a 
few inches high, and bloom continuously all summer. 
Brown Prince and Golden Gem are among the finest 
varieties for this purpose. 
Those that are termed greenhouse varieties are best 
suited to window culture, for they will not bear the hot 
summer sun; they delight in a cool, half-shady place. 
Both sorts have beautiful flowers, and are well worthy 
of culture. 
The Primula will give the best satisfaction if grown 
in a cool, well-lighted room, with but little sunshine. 
They are sensitive to heat, and the flowers will be small 
and inferior when the plants are grown in full sunshine, 
or by the hot kitchen stove. For winter flowering the 
Primula ranks among the finest. 
The Cineraria likes a rich, sandy coil and sunshine. 
I set my plants out in June and leave them until Sep¬ 
tember, when the nights begin to get cool; in this way 
I get fine, strong plants that come into flower early. 
The Cineraria is pretty in foliage and flower; an orna¬ 
ment to any collection. I know of but one thing against 
it, unless one is watchful it will get covered with in¬ 
sects; the green louse is its enemy. Sometimes, as a 
preventive, I prepare the soil and heat it as I do for 
sowing choice seeds, then give them the sunniest place 
at the window, and shower the foliage often, but the 
soil should not be kept wet constantly; they will quickly 
resent too much moisture; if kept rather dry there will 
be less danger of their being troubled with lice. 
The Cyclamen is of slower growth than the plants 
mentioned above; it does not always bloom until the 
second season. This plant is particularly adapted to 
window culture; it is not over sensitive, but thrives 
best in good friable soil, strong light, a cool room, and 
partial shade. It is not by nature a very thirsty plant, 
and if kept too wet the bulb will decay. One can afford 
to wait patiently for the Cyclamen to mature, it has so 
many good points in its favor and nothing to urge 
against it but its slow growth; and that should not 
bring it into disfavor, since the same bulb will continue 
to bloom many years in succession with proper care. 
And speaking of the Cyclamen reminds me, that 
some one may wish to know what to do with the 
bulbs after flowering. 
Set them away from th& window, but not in the dark 
and gradually withhold water, but never entirely; keep 
the soil slightly moist, even after the foliage drops, for 
if you allow the bulbs to become too dry, it is almost 
impossible to start them into growth again. But a 
better way is, to slip them from the pots into the earth 
’beneath the foliage of shrubs where the sun cannot 
reach them, and leave them to the care of Nature until 
September, then repot in fresh soil and set at the win¬ 
dow, for by this time the new foliage should be well 
started. Do not remove to the ground until June. 
After Primulas are done flowering, I often treat them 
in the same way, only I do not remove them from the 
pots; but they may be summered in a shady place out 
doors with the best results; but if kept in the house, 
keep them where it is light, and do not let them dry 
off, they will need water once or twice a week through¬ 
out the season; particularly after new foliage begins 
to put out. Should they show a disposition to bloom, 
pinch out the flower-stalks, until October, for they will 
be very inferior to those that develop in winter. 
I would caution those who live in the colder sections 
of the country not to be in a hurry to remove their 
plants from the pots to the beds, lest they have an op¬ 
portunity of proving the trite old proverb, “ Too great 
haste makes waste.” We usually have a cold storm of 
rain and sleet in May. I do not put mine out until after 
this storm has passed by, and the more tender varieties 
not until the first of June. This may sound strange to 
friends of the “Sunny South,” or warmer climates, 
where they have but three seasons; one long, long 
summer, and then autumn reaches over and clasps the 
hand of spring. 
Perhaps they can better realize our Northern winter 
when I tell them at this writing, March lltli, we have 
between three and four feet of snow on a level, to say 
nothing of the huge drifts arouud about buildings, and 
corners. 
Putting plants in the ground when the soil is cold and 
