HOUSE AND GARDEN 
March, 1913 
The pun'ica granatum pomegranate blooms winter anc 
summer when in the conservatory 
sively cultivated 
The flesh-colored justicia carnea needs 
rich soil for development 
al conditions as B. Metake. Both are worth the care required. 
For positions where a plant of medium size can be used, there 
is nothing better than the aspidistra, with its large, leathery leaves 
that remain in perfection for years. The aspidistra has one pecu¬ 
liarity, however, which should be observed—a dislike to being 
moved around. As far as 
possible, it should occupy 
tOO lOt 3, Sll 1 IS ^ 
cient, where one desires 
color as well as form and The Agave Vicioriae-Reginae is stem- 
where blooming plants are less and sometimes has 200 leaves 
more satisfactory. For¬ 
tunately the supply of such suitable plants is large, and one may 
gratify his predilection for almost any color or tint. One of the 
really fine tilings where a blooming shrub is desired, is the Chinese 
hibiscus, which comes in varying shades of pink, red, and yellow. 
The foliage is exceedingly handsome, being large, waxy and of a 
fine gloss. H. Miniatus semi-plenus is to my mind the finest 
form, the flowers being a brilliant Vermillion four to five inches 
in diameter and semi-double. They never fail to attract attention, 
and when used for corsage wear—for which purpose they are ex¬ 
cellent — it is no unusual thing to be 
stopped on the streets by utter stran¬ 
gers, who ask you what that beauti¬ 
ful flower is. 
The peachblow variety is also very 
good, being, as its name indicates, a 
delicate peachblow pink, which is 
stronger and better in full sunshine 
than in partial shade. There is also 
a pure double salmon flower and some orange shades, together 
with many single flowers of immense size. 
The plants are easily cared for, but require plenty of root room, 
rich soil, which may be partly marsh earth, and an abundant sup¬ 
ply of water during the growing season. They do rather better 
in pots than when grown 
in the open ground, as 
there they are inclined to 
go too much to foliage. 
The flower of the hibiscus 
lasts but a single day, but 
as flower succeeds flower 
in rapid succession, this 
fact is scarcely apparent 
except to the gardener. 
The hibiscus may be win¬ 
tered in a frost-proof cel¬ 
lar, but a cold, damp one 
is likely to prove fatal to 
it. It may also be kept 
growing and blooming in 
a warm conservatory or 
greenhouse if desired. 
The various oleanders 
The pyramidal box, like the bay tree, are not as much cultivated 
is suited to formal gardens i n t h e north as they should 
be, as they are fine in 
every way, abundant in foliage, attractive in growth and exceed¬ 
ingly beautiful in flower. Almost everyone is familiar with the 
old, double form of the oleander, but the dark reds, whites and 
single pinks are less widely known. The oleanders are of easy 
culture, and the plants last for years. As they increase in size and 
beauty from year to year, they should receive more attention than 
is given to them. 
The various pot hydrangeas are more in evidence, and well 
deserve the popularity accorded them. Empress Eugenie-—the old 
favorite with its pale pink flowers, 
is the best known of the sorts. Otak- 
sa—another pink form, and Thomas 
Hogg, a pure white type, are the prin¬ 
cipal varieties, but to this list may be 
added a blue form by the simple trick 
of adding certain chemicals to the 
soil in which the plants are grown, a 
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