6 
good loam and peat soil and a moderate 
amount of drainage must be given. But 
the most important thing, as in the case 
of the Aspidistra, is to sponge the leaves 
at frequent intervals to remove dust and 
dirt. When the foliage begins to turn 
yellow a little soot-water will be bene- 
ficial, but there is really little attention 
required, simply not to overpot or repot 
too often, and watier very carefully during 
the winter months. 
The Orphiopgon is another good window 
or room plant, though usually kept in a 
greenhouse or conservatory. But it may 
be brought into the room, and its wealth 
of narrow green and creamy-white varie- 
gated leafage is very attractive, especially 
when set off by spikes of sapphire-bluc 
flowers. It grows freely in an ordinary 
lomy soil, and when used in the green- 
house iis very pleasing in a terra-cotta vase 
or window-box, so to say, on a greenhouse 
shelf. 
Three excellent ferns for’ rooms are 
Pteris cretica, its variety albo-lineata, and 
P. tremula. L do not think it is possible 
to get a more useful trio, all being so 
vigorous, and not like the majority of 
ferns, averse to cultivation in. rooms. 
They succeed in ordinary peaty soil, and 
greatly dislike an over-supply of water. 
Draczena Indivisa is another useful, plant 
hard to kill, and always fresh in aspect 
when the foliage is kept properly sponged, 
and to ‘this small selection may, be added 
the Date Palm, Corypha australis, Gre- 
villea robusta, the Norfolk Island Pine 
(Araucarial excelsa), very pretty when 
small and distinct in aspect, and the Sedge 
(Cyperus alternifolius) and its variegated ° 
variety, which require more moisture than 
any of the other plants mentioned. It 
is graceful, free-growing, and pretty when 
stood on a small table so that its fanciful 
growths is in no way cramped. All the 
foregoing kinds I have grown for years in 
rooms, and during the winter especially 
they succeed better than anything else I 
‘have tried.—T. ; 
Ai FINE WINTER-FLOWERING 
PLANT (EUPHORBIA JACQUINI- 
ARFLORA . 
Next to the Poinsettia, the Euphorbia 
is one of the brightest subjects we have 
for this season of the year. It is rather 
more difficult to manage than the Poinset- 
‘tia, as the slender roots are liable to perish 
if allowed to become dry or if kept too 
wet. It is very important to have strong 
cuttings, and this cam only be done by 
looking after the old plants after the 
flowers have been cut. When flowering is 
over, the plants are somewhat shabby- 
looking, and on this account they are 
often consigned. to some obscure corner 
and neglected. The earlier in the year 
cuttings can be had the better. If taken 
off close to the old stem with ai slight 
heel, and inserted in pots filled with: peat, 
leaf-mould, and plenty of sharp sand, and 
stood in al propagating case, they will soon 
form roots. I like to put the cuttings 
singly into small pots, as then there is no 
THH AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
danger of the tender fibres being injured 
in any way. When ready for potting off, 
some loam and a lttle manure may be 
added to the mixture just mentioned. 
Early-struck plants may be stopped once 
or twice, but those rooted later in the sea- 
son may be grown three in a pot. This 
Euphorbia must not be ripened off; the 
more freely the plants are grown, the 
longer will be the sprays of bloom. When 
required only for cutting it may be plan- 
ted out with advantage, especially if a 
pesition where there is a little bottom- 
heat can be given. Give the plants plenty 
of drainage, using a rough, porous com- 
post. It must be well exposed to the 
light, and with good treatment will stand 
full exposure to the sun. In the summer 
_ artificial heat is not necessary, but as soon 
as the nights begin to get chilly a little 
fire-heat must be applied. If left in a 
cold-house, the mischief will show itself 
as soon as placed in heat, when the leaves 
will quickly fall, thus spoiling the appear- 
ance of the plants.—T. 
THREE GOOD WINTER YELLOW- 
FLOWERING PLANTS. Z 
Yellow flowers are not plentiful at this 
time of the year; yeti anyone having an 
ordinary greenhouse or a cool conservatcry 
may without any difficulty have a grand 
display of Abutilon Golden Queen and 
Linum trigynum, and wherever the tem- 
perature of a house cam be kept at a mini- 
mum of 60 degs. during the winter, a third 
plant, the lovely Linum tetragynum, may 
with advantage be added to the list. 
Little need be said here about the Abuti- 
lon, as other varieties with! flowers white, 
pink, and red of various tints are well 
known.and found in nearly every private 
garden where cut flowers are in’ demand 
during the winter. There, under a gener- 
ous treatment, and planted out in the bor- 
der of a greenhouse or of the conservatory, 
either against a wall or as pillar plants, 
they produce in great abundance their 
lovely flowers, which are so well adapted 
for bouquets and table decoration. 
Abutilon Golden Queen is a great im- 
provement on ‘the better known Boule 
dOr, being of better habit and a much 
more profuse bloomer. Its beautiful bell- 
shaped flowers of a bright’ yellow colour 
are produced from the axils of the leaves 
at nearly all times of the year. Abuti- 
lons are easily propagated from cuttings, 
which root freely at almost all seasons, al- 
though those struck in early spring are 
the best. They may also be considered 
clean plants, the only insect to which they 
are subject being the green-fly, which is 
readily destroyed either by fumigating or 
by syringing the plants, especially the un- 
derside of the foliage, where the vermin 
generally collects, with a weak decoction 
of Quassia chips, which leaves no unpleas- 
ant smell and is very effective. 
Linum Trigynum is the popular name 
for Reinwardtia’ trigyna, a neat-flowering 
plant cf shrubby habit, native of the 
mountainous parts of the East Indies. Al- 
though of equally easy culture, this plant 
May 1, 1905 
requires a little more attention than the 
foregoing, but at this time of the year its 
flowers, of a rich orange-yellow colour, 
amply repay the cultivator for any extra 
care bestowed upon it. Linum trigynum 
is essentially a greenhouse plant, and does 
best in pots. 1t is easily increased from 
cuttings made in March and April, and 
these, if properly treated, form in the 
course of the season bushy, well-furnished 
plants in 44-inch pots, which during the 
winter greatly assist in the decoration of 
the greenhouse and conservatory. The 
shoots from plants which have been cut 
back soon after they have done flowering 
form the best cuttings, which should be 
inserted in a sandy compost and kept ini a 
close propagating frame, where they root 
readily, after which they should be potted 
singly in a mixture of fibrous loam, part- 
ly decayed leaf-mould, and silver sand in 
equal parts. To ensure free growth it is 
advisable to add a small quantity of some 
fertiliser to the above-named compost. 
When rooted, and until they are fairly 
well established in the pots in which they 
are to flower, the young plants benefit by 
being kept in an intermediate tempera- 
ture, while in autumn a position in a low 
frame to which plenty of air and sun can 
be admitted is best, as it is necessary to 
ripen the last-made wood to favour the 
formation of the flower-buds. During 
their growing season the plants must be 
frequently pinched to ensure their grow- 
ing into a compact shape. The last pinch- 
ing, however, should take place not later 
than the end of January, or there is a 
danger of not allowing sufficient time for 
the formation of the flower-buds, especi- 
ally if it should happen to be aj rainy 
season. A temperature of 50 degs. to 55 
degs. is that in which the flowers open 
best and are least likely toi damp off. On 
account of its being subject to red-spider, 
Linum trigynum must be frequently 
syringed, and care should be taken that 
the water reaches the under part of the 
foliage. During the hot weather, from 
December to March, when the plants are 
best stood outside altogether, it is advis- 
able to give them three or even four 
syringings a day, preference being given to 
vain water whenever procurable. After 
flowering, the plants may be cut back and 
subjected to similar treatment, but it is 
preferable to propagate and grow fresh 
plants every year. If not pinched, Linum 
trigynum forms a. straggling, unshapely 
bush, varying from 2 feet to 3 feet in 
height. 
Linum tetragynum is another beautiful 
yellow flowering plant of shrubby habit, 
but it must be grown in a warm’ house 
all the year round. If we only judge by 
the outward appearance, we find that it 
has a great affinity with the plant just 
described; indeed, the differences are 
mostly botanical, inasmuch as its flowers, 
as the specific name tetragynum implies, 
are four-styled ; whereas those of L. trigy- 
num are three-styled.. As a decorative 
plant for winter iti is of as great value as 
the other; its flowers, which are produced 
