1886 . 
THb 
(?iarJen 
and g reenhouse 
SPEOIMEN PLAMTS 
Ill growing plants Cor oxhiliiUn,, „ 
tlio decoration «C our rooms aii.l halir w 
of first linportanco U, select such iciiK ,; . J 
varieties as are best suited Cor the p„rL . 
Tho process of producing symmetrical wo i' 
developed specmions is simple enou-d, if ^ 
little .care and attention is 'dveii " ’ 
There is a good deal ^c misconception 
about the necessity oC siiecial soils for cacli 
class of plants. Good, ratlicr sandy sod 
taken from tlic roadside or a pasture, and 
well mixed witli one-fourtli oC decomposed 
manure is suitalilc for nearly all cultivated 
plants. Wlictlier grown in tlic window, sit¬ 
ting-room OK greculiouse, specimen plants 
should be turned every few days, 
that every part of tlicm may be 
equally exposed to light. Stakes 
should be given when necessary, 
and strong shoots pinched back so as 
to maintain a pleasing and symmet¬ 
rical shape. Tlie one great rule for 
watering is, never to give water to a 
plant until it shows signs of being dry, 
and then to water freely so that tlie 
water may reach the soil in tlie 
very bottom of tlic pot. 
COLEUS. 
Some of the new kinds of fancy 
Coleus, though wortliless when 
grown in the open air exposed to 
the full blaze of the sun and drying 
winds, are perfectly gorgeous in col¬ 
oring wiien grown as window plants 
where suffleient light can be had to 
develop the coloring of their leaves. 
Among the most marked and finest 
new varieties are : Mar 3 f Kennerslj', 
carmine and crimson; Magpie, white 
and gi’een; Golden Dawn, rich caiiarj' 
yellow; Crimson Bedder, verniillion 
blended \vith maroon; Paroquette, 
Vermillion, crimson and gold; Aline, 
rosy scarlet ground, maroon edge. 
Corsair, scarlet, black a nd verniillion, 
Eosser, crimson, green, yellow and 
maroon; Splendour, carmine ground, 
fringed gokl; Black Butterfljq d.iik 
crimson tinted light scarlet; Chame¬ 
leon, rose, green, j^ellow and pin pie, 
and finally we have the Unequalled, 
which is rosy scarlet, fringed wit i ye 
geuaniujis. 
Another easily managed 
the double and single varieties o ^ ‘ ^ 
niums. Sixof thefinest single and double 
embi'aced in those below naniec. 
plant 
It 
height of 
I'ciglit, and 
AMBR^C an ^ARDBN . 
is bettc 
265 
on a trellis to the 
feet ill breadth and 
grown in any ordinary 
nearly as well as in the 
... *' fo'' '•ooni decoration. 
oan easily be trained 
six to oiglit 
II , . . 
hglit sitting-room 
greenhouse. 
■ii-n double Ivy-leaved Geraniums 
M„Vi. Cl'orsel, salmon rose; 
am llicbaut, deep rosy carmine; Klfre- 
la, lilac; Madame Chervil, rosy scarlet; 
inly Lemoine, light scarlet; and the Eva, 
which IS pure white. 
OAI.ADiU.US. 
I'aiicy Caladiiiiiis are comparatively little 
known among amateurs, yet for decorative 
foliage” plants they stand almost unrivalled, 
assuiiiing every style of marking, so strange 
and varied is tho splashing and spotting and 
inarbling on tlie green leaves, that when 
III St .seen it .seems more like the work of man 
ics they can be grown successfully only dur¬ 
ing tlie summer months. Specimen plants 
of Coleus, Caladiums and Begonias should 
not be started before the middle of May. 
When started at that time, and afterwards 
shifted into larger pots, whenever the pots 
they are growing in become filled with roots, 
by the middle of September, Coleus will 
liave reached a height and width of from 
three to four feet, Caladiums of from two to 
three feet, and Rex Begonias of from one to 
two feet, if in the meantime ordinary care has 
been taken tor them. Peteu Uexueuson. 
CROTON AUREUM MACULATUM. 
Single: King ’'"iiaiia, dark 
ter; Snowflake, pure wlnte, . 
crimson; Gurnea, orange ■ 
deep pink; Mons. Bellot, t azz. 
Double: Double Gen. ’ ‘le^polphus. 
Alba plena, pure white; _ Grand 
violet; Annie Monde, J- C- 
Chancellor, dark crimson, 
white cell' 
Rowland, salmon. ' of Ivy or 
Many of the new double ^yjthin the 
climbing Geraniums intro ’^..ggqualio 
last two or three years are qo .^j^^oess of 
of truss, fullness of flower an ^ jj-q 
coloring to the best of the 'i‘ 
tlian of nature. 
'i'he leaves are mostly heart 
or arrow-shaped, of varying shades of green. 
and ill 
some kinds tlie markings look as if 
sprinkled with white, scarlet, eriiiisoii or 
link paint drops; others again are maiblcd 
* 1 =i,.iflpd ill every conceivable way. 
BefulUBi Edward Moreau, Borr.al, Keteleri, 
Bicolor, and Dr. Liiidley. 
IIEGONIAS. 
-Phe “Rex” or fancy-leaved Begonias are 
, .jnss of tropical plants of exceeding 
anothei clas .phe leaves are 
beauty, . ejo-ht to ten inches in 
mostly hear ■ g .j giy marked In dif- 
length black, rose and vio- 
ferent shade J of most of 
Igt. Thesu fac loster, looking m 
them “ bLe beautiful frosted silver, an 
some varieties „..... 
WINDOW POLUGE PLANTS. 
nv JOUX TIIOEPB. 
in rooms in which the temperature does not 
fall below G5°, many of the most beautiful 
foliage plants maybe grown successfully; 
and when it is considered that the plants re¬ 
quire not nearly as much care and at¬ 
tention as the more delicate flower¬ 
ing plants, it is sm-prising that am¬ 
ateurs do not give more attention 
to their culture in the house. 
CALADIUMS. 
Tlie species witli many-colored, 
spotted, striped, and mottled leaves, 
are verj' handsome plants for sum¬ 
mer, and can be started in small pots 
in March in the warmest corner, re¬ 
potted as they grow into pots of four 
or five inches diameter, and bj' the 
time other plants have to be removed 
out of doors these will be fine objects 
all through the sunmier mouths. 
COLEUS AXD ACIIYBAXTHE5. 
These are splendid plants for very 
warm rooms. Strong tops can be 
easily rooted from plants growing 
outside, by the middle of -August, 
taken inside before any chilly nights 
come, repotted into uecessarj-sized 
pots, and kept well supplied irith 
water. They are among the best 
plants for winter cultivation indoors, 
and are not at all costlj'. 
CROTOXS. 
.Although Crotons have not as 3 'et 
been employed for window plants 
to the extent they deserve, theii- 
richly-marked leaves, elegant forms, 
and viiriable shapes are always at- 
. tractive. They delight in rich soil, 
a high temperature, and moderate 
liglit; should be frequently cleansed, 
either by sprinkling, bathing, or sponging; 
they may either be kept inside all summer, 
or after the 1st of June they maybe plunged 
in some shady, warm corner outside, until 
September. Any straggling shoots should be 
pinched or cut oft' from time to time, thus 
producing abushy growth, niese are among 
the most showy ornamentalleaved plants that 
can be grown indoors. 
DRACAENAS. 
These ivell-known elegant plants are easily 
managed. Z>. tmninalis, Guilfoylei, Cooperi, 
and amabilis are grown in great numbers fox- 
window plants, and if they are treated 
as advised for Crotons will give the same 
satisfactory results. 
FERNS. 
Numerous species succeed in the shadiest 
windows, requiring but little attention, and 
are always graceful and cheei-iug. They 
must be kept well supplied with water, occa- 
As all these 
