1886. 
one tho iinprosalon of a plant bathed In 4 ,n. 
shine, because tho yellow hi tho loaves Is so 
bright. 
'I’he Abutiloii will ^fow well hi any good 
soil. If care is not taken to make plants 
bu.shy, hy pinohing in well while young, 
tlicy will grow tall, and have Cow branolies ; 
but, if Ivcpf well pinched liaek, many 
branches will start, and it is easy to inalfo 
slirubs of them, or pretty little trees. Tf 
tlie tree-shape is itreforrcd, train the plant to 
one st.eni until it has reached a iieight where 
you want the head to forni. Then cut It olT. 
As soon as branches start at the toji—all 
others must be cut oil—iiinch them back to 
within a few inches of the main stem. Tftop 
up this pinching-back until yon have a dozen 
branches started. Then you can let them 
grow for awhile; but after they have reached 
the length of a foot or more, it is well to cut 
oil’the ends, to thicken up the plant. 
In growing A. vexillanum for baskets, 
the branches iiiiist be made to grow low on 
the plant, therefore do not allow it to grow 
tall before pinching begins. 
Begin this early, in order to 
get as many branches as pos¬ 
sible. The plant is easily 
managed, if one ])erseveres 
ill pruning by pinching. 
The Abutiloii is seldom 
troubled by insects of any 
kind. In this respect it is 
equal to the Geranium. It 
will endure a lower temper¬ 
ature than most window 
plants without injury. 11 
grows readilj’' from cuttings. 
Small plants can be procured 
of any florist, in spring, for 
15 or 20 cents; these will be¬ 
come good-sized 113 ^ fall, and 
will help to make the win¬ 
dow bright and pleasant 
through the wintei- months. 
E. E. Rkxfokd. 
garden. 
87 
aKEENHOUSE FUMI&ATIOIl, 
in U^TN 
exnei-lf. 1 the bands of an 
- Pc.lonced gardener, perfectly safe with 
SniT ^ always elllcaolous. 
■ omc species of pbmts will not stand even a 
mil amount Of the fumes,-as the Perns 
»>>d llclmtrope, for iusta.,ce,-but tliesc arc 
CN-ccptional. It is better to' smoke a little 
and oltcn,tlian to All tlieliousefullofden.se, 
Imt smoke at one time. The stems must 
never be allowed to blaze, but be sufllciently 
damp to smoulder and emit the destructive 
lumeS.' 'I'bis is so penetrating that when 
the greenhouse adjoins the dwelling, it 
seems ue.\'t to impossible to prevent the 
odor from ftnding its way into the latter. A 
damp cloth fastened over the connecting 
door or window, however,will in part remedy 
the evil. 
Our best gardeners fumigate regularly 
once a week, and none less than every alter¬ 
nate week, believing that “an ounce of pre¬ 
vention is better than a pound of cure.” 
OUB WHTDOW BOX, 
Furnace gas is one of the deadliest ene¬ 
mies of house-plants. 
fjijuimaxhia nummularia, the moneywort, 
though old and common, is one of the best 
and prettiest basket plants. 
Soft-wooded plants should always be placed 
nearest the light, wliile hard and smooth- 
leaved ones will not sulTer in quite shaded 
situations. 
Leaf-mold, rotted cow manure, and good 
garden loam in equal parts, with a small ad¬ 
dition of sand, well mixed together, makes 
a suitable soil for nearly all plants. 
One part of kerosene beaten thoroughly 
with two parts of common soft-soap, and 
thftn mixed with water, forms an effectual 
remedy for red .spider and mealy bugs. 
DALLAS, 
The C;alla Lily, as it is 
popularly called, is one of the 
most desii'able w i u d o w 
plants, and yet it is not gen¬ 
erally successfully managed. 
Those having plants will do 
well to keep them growing in a light, sunny 
window during the spring months. If they 
have not flowered, do not lose patience and set 
them in the background; bear with them 
until the first of May, then find some shaded, 
damp corner in the garden, and in this plunge 
your plant over the rim of the pot. About 
tMce a week during summer carry along 
with you a basin or watering-can of soapy 
water, and give your Calla a dose. 
Toward the middle of September dig it up, 
•md if the pot appeal's too small for the plant, 
get a pot one or two sizes larger, turn the 
plant out, transfer it into the larger pot with¬ 
out breaking the roots, ,and place it in il;h.e 
pghtest, sunniest window at command. As 
it begins to grow, give plenty of water .and 
frequent stimulants and by Christmas, if 
fiiese directions are followed, you will be 
S'u-e to have flowers. Alter the flower-buds 
e^Ppear, the plant maybe placed, in a very 
"'arm position without injury from ordinary 
changes of temperature. JOHN THOBPE. 
DOUBLE, VARIEGATED ABUTILON. 
This systematic smoking i)revents the aph- 
ides from obtaining a foothold in any con¬ 
siderable number, .and a less amount of 
smoke will asph 3 rxiate them. It is a good 
plan to. syringe the plants in adviifice of 
fumigation, and then again after the smoke 
passes away. 
Another method is suggested by a corre¬ 
spondent, that of eva]ioratiug a strong decoc¬ 
tion of tobacco, filling the greenhouse with 
the vapor. This is easily done by setting a 
Lamp inside of a stovepipe collar, so that the 
top of the chimney reaches to its top, win e 
below there is a dr.aft provided for. A pan 
containing the tea is set on the top of the col¬ 
lar on two pieces of wire, which leave an 
openiiio' large enough for draft-exit. This v< - 
o.- twice a week, bnt there .a,c Mw.y. 
anirip left un asphyxiated. 
Bulbs of Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissi, that 
Je hlecm.^ acting 
Shotad be kept dry nntU planted ent don . 
Ferns are among the prettiest and most satis¬ 
factory window plants. Some 
of our native kinds are highly 
ornamentift and m,a 3 t be had 
for the trouble of digging 
them up in the woods. 
“There can be no surer in¬ 
dication of ahappy homethan 
a flowei'-decorated window, 
01 - neatl 3 ' kept garden, how¬ 
ever small it may be," says 
the author of the Window 
Flower Garden. 
To prevent the frequent 
brewiking of large flower-pots, 
the Germantown Telegr.aph 
reeommends to place around 
them as the 3 ' are purchased 
a single line of wire—copper 
being best—just underneath 
the rim of the pots. 
Cohwa scatidens is one of 
the best plants for training 
up the sides of a ba}' win¬ 
dow. Wu'e may be fastened 
along the sides and over the 
top, on which to train the 
vines, which will soon cover 
the wood work and hang from the top in 
graceful festoons of delicate green. 
For a small, choice collection of Gerani¬ 
ums, J. G. Barker recommends, for single. 
General Grant .and Orbiculatum, scarlet; 
May Queen and Master Christine, pink; Miss 
Gertrude and Mrs. George Smith, salmon; 
and Pauline Lucca and Snowflake, white. 
For double varieties. Bishop Wood, crimson 
shaded with cherry red; Henry Cannell, 
bright scarlet, and Mme. Thibaut, pink. 
Ever since The AiUEiizcjJl Gaedex commenced 
its mission—and a sw.eet one it is—I have been a 
subscriber.— jlfrs. L. G. Maxon, Charlotte Co., Fo. 
I take the.but there is more practical in¬ 
formation in your January number than in the 
Januarj' and February numbers combined of 
that magazine.—JL A. C. Bardwell, Yates Co., At T. 
The March Gaeden Is certainly the handsomest 
paper printed, either here or in Enrope. I have 
never seen cuts nor type look equal to it. Your 
advertising patronage is simply “ immense.”— 
A. Blanc, Philadelphia. 
