the abutilon. 
Take them aU in all, there are no plants S''’® 
many flowers diming the dreary months of „ 
Thus remarks one of our leading florists m his 
in speaking of the Abutilon; and although there 
oth^planfs that will prove to be of more value ^ 
professional floi-ist, for cut flowers, than the ^'■b«tilo . 
yet I think that the different varieties rank 
most desirable Winter-flowering plants, ^'betbergi-o^ ^ 
for the greenhouse or window-garden, while as si o 
specimens in the mixed border during the Sumniei 
months, they ai-e of special value. The Abutilons, or 
they are commonly called Flowering Maples, are i 
wooded greenhouse plants, with ample luxuriant fohage 
growing from two to eight feet in height, producmg 
their pendulous bell-shaped flowei-s from the ax^ of 
their leaves in the greatest profusion durnig, at least, 
nine months of the year. Within the l^t ten yearn 
there has been a wonderful improvement in the Abuti- 
lon. Then we had only a few varieties of coai-se tree-hke 
growth and straggling habit, producing crimson or 
orange-colored flowers with only a few varying shades. 
Now we have varieties of dwarf compact habit, profiise 
flowering qualities, and in color varying from dark crim¬ 
son to pure white, to say nothing of those varieties with 
variegated foUage, the foliage being so beautifully 
blocked and blotched with green and gold, that it bears 
more resemblance to a piece of mosaic work than to the 
foliage of a plant. 
The Abutilons are deservedly popular plants on ac¬ 
count of their freedom from insects, cleanly habits, ease 
of cultivation; and rapid growth combined with then- 
free flowering qualities. The Abutilons form a class of 
plants that require but little skill for their successful 
cultivation, they wUl thrive and do well in ordinary 
potting soils, and in the Winter they require a tempera¬ 
ture of from 40® to 50®, with a liberal supply of water at 
the roots, and occasionally a sprinkling over the leaves. 
The most preferable method of cultivation is to obtain 
young plants early in May, place them into three or four- 
inch pots, and then plunge the pots rather deeply in the 
flower-border; water, if necessary, dming the Summer 
season, and about the first of September take up and re¬ 
pot in six or eight-inch pots, using a compost composed 
of two-thirds well-rotted sods and one-third well-rotted 
manure: water freely, and place them in a shaded situa¬ 
tion until they have taken hold of the soil, then expose 
to the sun until the approach of frost, when they 
should be brought inside. The next season they can be 
planted out in the open border, or, if it is desired to re¬ 
tain them for another season, they should be trimmed 
•into shape, then turned out of their pots, and the ball of 
earth and roots reduced about one-half, re-pot into as 
small pots as possible, plunge and ti-eat precisely as ad- 
•vised for young plants. To those who possess a green¬ 
house, two-year old plants are the most desirable on ac¬ 
count of the immense quantity of flowers which they 
will produce, but for the window-garden young plants 
are to be preferred. •, , 
A, Mesopoiamtcum and A. M, variegatum, being of 
less vigorous growth and creeping or drooping habit 
require a somewhat different treatment. The plants 
should be planted out in the flower-border diu-ing the 
Summer, in order to obtain as rfgorous a growth as pos¬ 
sible ; little or no trimming is required, as the larger and 
older the plants become the more flowers they in-oduce. 
The plants can be trained up the sides of the ivindow- 
garden, or on a low circular trellis for the gi-eenhouse, 
or they can be placed in a hanging-basket, and sus¬ 
pended in the window-garden or from the rafters of the 
gi-eenhouse. 
Another excellent plan, and one more worthy of being 
generally adopted, is to inarch it on to A. Santana Joseph 
Hill, or any other variety of vigorous gi-owth, about 
foiu- feet in height. When well established, pinch back 
freely so as to form an umbrella-like head ; when this is 
obtained, allow it to droop to the groimd. 
-1. J/. variegatum should be marched on A. Thomp- 
• sonii, or some variety witli variegated foliage, in order to 
retain the variegation; for if inarched on those varieties 
with green foliage, it will not remain true. This variety 
can also be obtained by inarching A. Mesopotamicum on 
A. Thompsonii, or any variety with variegated foliage. 
There are so many varieties of the Abutilon that it is 
quite difficult to select a few of the most distinct, but 
those enumerated below are about the most desirable. 
Arthur Belsham. A lai-ge finely-formed flower, of a 
deep crimson orange color, without any markings on 
the outside. 
Auguste Vasseivold. A fine variety with variegated 
foliage, the large leaves being beautifully blocked with 
green, yellow and creamy wlute. 
Blood-Red. A very free flowering variety with large 
blood-red flowers, which are marked with veiy dark 
veins. 
Boule de Niege. The pure white bell-shaped flowers 
of tliis variety are very freely produced, even on small 
plants. It is of dwarf compact habit, and is a splendid 
pot plant. 
Darudnii majus. This is another free flowering va¬ 
riety, with very large flowers of an orange crimson color 
with purple veins. The flowers average two inches in 
diameter, on strong healthy plants. 
Darwinii tessellata variegata. This is a variety with 
beautifully variegated foliage, and dark orange-purple 
parachute-shaped flowers, which are produced in great 
perfection. One of the best and most distinct. 
Lue de Malakoff variegata. This is a beautiful variety, 
the large leaves of which are blotched and mottled with 
green and gold, and large crimson flowers. 
Joseph HiU. Has large flowers of a deep orange color 
marked with deep crimson veins, one of the best and 
most deskable. 
J. H. Skinner. Is a most profuse flowering variety, 
with large reddish salmon flowers, a very distinct and 
desirable variety. 
L. B. Case. A very free flowering variety with cnm- 
son-red flowers, which have puiple veins. 
Roseoflorum. Has very large rose-colored flowers, 
which are beautifully veined with bright pink; very 
distinct, one of the best. 
/ 
