188<t.] 
THE AMERICAN GARDEN. 
89 
ABUmON. 
The different species and varieties of Abii- 
tilons form a most beantifnl andusofnl class 
of plants belonging to tho natural order 
Malavaeoo). They are commonly known 
under the name of Flowering Maple, from 
the resemblance their leaves bear to those of 
the Sugar Maple. Indeed, tho whole plant 
strikingly resembles a dwarf Maple tree, 
they are a class of hard-wooded greenhouso 
shrubs, most of them attaining a height of 
from two to six feet, blooming abundantly at 
all .seasons of the year ; and, in addition to 
this, several of tho varieties have beautiful 
mottled or blotched leaves, usually of a 
bright yellow color on dark-gi'een ground, 
giving them more the appearance of a piece 
of Mosaic work than the foliage of a plant. 
When grown in pots, during the -winter 
season, they furnish a quantity of beautiful, 
pendulous bell-shaped flowers, that vary in 
color from piu-e white to orange scarlet, with 
all varjdng and intermediate shades, some 
of them being beautifully veined and 
striped. All of them do well, and flower 
finely when bedded out dui-ing the sum¬ 
mer season. They are also very pop¬ 
ular plants for the -window-garden on 
account of their healthfulness, their 
cleanly habit, freedom from insect 
pests, and their constant flowering. 
The Abutilons are easily cultivated, 
doing well in a compost of two-thirds 
well-rotted sods, and one-third well- 
decayed manure. They require a tem¬ 
perature of 48° to 66°, a light, sunny 
situation, and a liberal supply of water. 
When gi'own for the window-garden, 
young plants should be obtained early 
in May, placed in foiu--ineh pots, and 
then plunged in a sunny situation; 
turning the pots occasionally during 
the summer, and watering if necessary. 
About the first of September take 
them up and repot into eight or nine 
inch pots, according to the size of the 
plants, taking care to drain them well. 
When potted, water freely, and place 
in a shaded situation until cool weather 
sets in, when they should be brought 
inside. 
When grown for tho greenhouse a 
more liberal treatment should be given; 
they should be potted as well as shifted 
into larger-sized pots. And -n'hile for 
the window-garden young plants should 
be procured every season, for the gi-een- 
house old plants will do as well, if they 
are well cut back early in May, and treated 
as advised for young iflants. 
Of the many beautiful vai’ieties the fol¬ 
lowing are the most desirable: Due de 
Malahoff, esjpeeially the variegated form, 
with leaves blotched and mottled with white 
and golden yellow. August Jtossold, large 
foliage, beautifully blotched with gi'een, 
yellow, and creamy white. Darwini tesse- 
latum, a very beautiful variegated variety, 
and moreover very free flowering. Botde de 
neige, pm’e white flowei's. Dai'wini, orange 
scarlet-veined pink. John Thorpe, bright 
yellow. Santana, brownish crimson. Rosai- 
florum, beautiful rose-colored flowers. Blood- 
Red, blood red with dark veins ; and Josejyh 
Sill, with large, orange-eidmson flowers. 
A. Mesopotamieim and A. M. mriegatum 
are very distinct varieties of drooping or 
trailing growth, the flowers of both being 
yellow and scarlet. They require a more 
liberaltreatment, and should bo planted out ' 
in a rich, deep border during tho summer 
season. When taken up, they may bo trained 
to the sides of tho window-garden, or on a low, 
circular trellis. They may also be placed in 
rustic baskets and siispoiided from the raft¬ 
ers of tho greenhouse. Grafted or inarched 
on strong, erect growing varieties, they will, ' 
with a little care and attention, form excel¬ 
lent decorative plants for tho greenhouse oi 
conservatory. 
Chas. E. Parnull. 
WINDOW BOXES OF FLOWEES, 
Of home decorations nothing is so pleasing 
to tlie eye, and gives so refined and home¬ 
like an appearance to a house, as well ar¬ 
ranged outside window boxes; and country | 
residents who imagine them adapted to city I 
houses only deprive themselves of a great j 
means of enjoyment. The season lor pre- ! 
paring and planting window boxes is near at | 
hand, and how easily they may be managed 
is pointedly and instructively shown by a 
eoiTospondent of the Reio-York Tribune, who 
relates his experience as follows : 
The boxes were made of pine, three feet 
in length, one foot in width and nine inches 
deep. To simulate panels a piece of mold¬ 
ing was put around the edges of the sides 
and the ends. The supports were iron 
brackets screwed to the house, the horizontal 
part just long enough to hold the boxes, 
which were closely fitted under the xrindow 
sills. Both boxes and brackets were painted 
like the body of the house —an olive drab 
—so that tho latter were inconspicuous when 
not occupied. 
The boxes were filled -with well-ouriehed 
sandy loam, with a sprinkling of charcoal 
and guano, and planted with strong, healthy 
plants the latter pai’t of May. For bloom I 
depended mostly upon Geraniums, having 
some of the best varieties known to florists. 
and I placed lengthwise of each box three or 
four largo plants, filling in smaller ones in 
front and in the rear, together with tho finest 
varieties of Coleus and Achyranthes, and 
plants also with small delicate foliage. In 
front a large silver-leaved Geranium occupied 
the center of one box, a white Centaurea the 
other. Shades of rose color and lake pre¬ 
dominated in one, mixed with blue Lobelia 
and blue Ipomcoa. 
For trailers, masses of Oikonna erassi/olia 
served me, with many seedlings of Thunber- 
gia raised in a hotbed. The latter gave an 
abundance of pure white flowers, and of deep 
orange and bull. Pilogyne suavis was also 
utilized, and it had a wonderful growth, 
often sweeping the ground or running from 
box to box. The Geranimns outdid them¬ 
selves. They were young, stocky and eager 
to display their beauty—gi-eat rosj' clusters 
appeared here and there, vicing with the 
scarlet or crimson sorts, which were very 
handsome in their emerald setting. 
Not only were the plants disposed to 
advantage in front, but I was still more 
anxious to make the back side such as' 
to gratify the eye -within the room, for 
at these windows we had our easy 
chairs, and did our sewing and reading, 
and the close proximity of the plants 
gave us much satisfaction. It is always 
pleasant to look up from your book 
or your work to rest the eye on some¬ 
thing agreeable — a picture, a row of 
flowers, or a corner of the room with 
artistic arrangements, so this bit of 
gardening with its gorgeous coloring 
so near was truly charming. 
The abounduig vitality, the tender 
shading of color and highly decorative 
effect are not easily forgotten, and 
compelled admiration from those who 
were determined not to be satisfied. 
It was said: 
“ You wont like the bo.xes.” “ They 
-wili be a failure.” “ The plants -will 
burn up -with glass for a background.” 
“You can’t use yoim blinds to darken 
the room, and when the hot weather 
and the flies come you will wish your 
boxes elsewhere.” Finally, “You had 
better leave window boxes for city 
people.” 
It was ungracious in me not to heed 
these criticisms, but as I did not I can 
now confidently commend tho plan to 
all who desire to make their surround¬ 
ings attraetive. It is a gi'eat sa-\dng of labor, 
as the boxes can be watered from within, 
and with thick shades and wire screens we 
scarcely missed the use of window blmds. 
Doubtless the idea originated in the city 
where there was not ground for flower beds, 
but there is no reason why it should be con¬ 
fined there, for it furnishes a rare oppor- 
timity to embellish the country home. 
EEVIVING CUT FLOWEES. 
Hot water, will generally revive flowers 
that have wilted from having been cut for 
some time. Place the lower, part of the 
stems in nearly boiling hot water until the 
petals become smoothed out, then cut off tho 
part that has been in the hot water, and put 
.the flowers in luke warm water and keep in 
a cool room. White flowers are apt to turn 
yellowish and do not respond to this treat¬ 
ment as readily as colored ones. 
