Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-08-29

which | have never seen specially noticed
in the books is the single scarlet African
Hibiscus, a shrubby plant resembling the
"Rose OF Sharon" Of old fashioned gard
ems, with dark green, glossy leaves and
splendid, tropical-loOking flower Of a
brilliant scarlet, as large as q coffee sau-
Ger. The StamenS are yellow and the
pistil a dark velvety red. The flower
buds are formed on the terminal branches
and it Is in almost constant bloom both
summer and winter. Ii is OF the easiest
culture and requires but the ordinary
temperature, the only drawback being
that the gorgeous blooms only lasts d
day but they are so bright and attractive
that should never DO willing TO be with
out them. My two plants are OF different
species and have been in my possession
for several years. sink the pots in June
and they DO equally well in the yard al
summer.
Gerauiums, Of course, are Indispensable
and grow and bloom protuSeiy IN such a
window. | have a very novel effect on
one-a lonale green, with lighter zone.
4 pure white shoot, both stems and leaves
has been thrown out, which retains H.
color as i, continues growing, although
standing in full sunshine. | hope TO be
able to propagate ii. Then, there are the
OLD tavorijes usually grown-roses, Pinks,
axaleaS, acacia, prim-roScs, bouyardiaS,
mahernia, etc. | even find it possible to
raise some dollhouse plants by placing
them on high shelf in a warm corner,
and succeed with begonjaS, hcliotropS,
poinSetta, cuphorbia, coieus aud many OF
the foliage plants, which retain all the
glory OF midsummer.
But the gem Of al. d, maguihceu;
Gala Of about sixteen years. \ pot con-
tanning three large bulbs aud some smaller
ones, with large leaves AMI lovely golden
hearted lilies tor 1t Is always blooming
with three OF four fowors at oncel-its
majestic stateliue>S /, very striking. /
wonder If it Is generally known thar two
fower-buds are produced from the same
leai->talk | cut off the first when fully
opened and beginning TO fade, aud soon
another bud makes It's appearance beside
the stalk of the first. The only culture
needed Is to keep the saucer filled with
water, adding occasionally q lew drops OF
aqua ammonia or suauO water. Sink the
pot in partial shade and let it care for IL
self during the summer, and DO not dis
turb the roots more often than Is necessary
TO remove extra bulbs. \ tuchsia-I
think a SgccioS1, Is II blooms constantly
has grown into "a tue specimen. 1t Is OF
trailing habit and has been trained up the
side OF the window. Some CT the bran
ches are five or SIX feet in length, the
leaves are large and oviate and beautifully
yelned with red. The flowers grow in
long clusters on the ends Of every branch
and keep forming; as fast Is the first one
bloom new buds grow out Sometimes
have had over twenty flowers on one
branch at j time, with buds still coming.
For delicate climbing vines | ind mole
prettier than smilax aud maurandIaS.-
The foliage Of both IS most graceful, and
the latter blooms aud grows either out or
indoors. Some Of my pots Of It are sew
eral years old. take out the roots IN
June and plant them, aud they soon run
up SIX or seven feet and are covered with
wreaths of bloom Ia September they
are taken up, cut back nearly to the roots
and they soon start into new growth
again. They also MIKE fne climbing
plants for hanging baskets-as for III
stance 4 white one growing upon the
wires, crimson leaved atenantheras
around 1t, with fringe Of the delicate
blue lobelia. One basket that is always
snowy and sweet Is Just a mass of sweet
slyssum. IrOpeolums in variety, and
especially the dark Tom Thumbs, climbing
and dropping, are very gay, and fragrant
a. well; aud nothing can be sweeter than
mignOnette grown in this way Trans
plant some seedlings in August. The
TropOsOiums may be very easily rooted in
sand, sol or water at the same time. The
German Ivy Senecio ScaRdens) is al
ways graceful and Of very easy growth.
have found 1t most likely to bloom II left
undisturbed in a baSSet or vase for two
years, blooming freely toward spring the
second season, with clusters Of yellow
balls, rather pretty Last fall in gather
ing ferns, found some exquisite sprays
OF Virginia Creeper, which l pulled up
by the roots and planted in q basket with
forms and other wildwood treasures
The leaves turned scarlet and dropped.
and supposed all was gone; but in
March it sprouted out, and Is now grow
ing as Justify as though perfectly at home
| presume this Is not Z new experiment,
but l have never seen il before, and think
II will make fine basket-p.ant.
As TO my ferns, am more and more
in love with them day by day. 1t is
sai0 that our native ferns are not sue.
cess for the house growth, because they
are deciduous. IL is true that those plant
ed in autumn lose most Of their leaves
but they start into growth very early, are
more delicate and graceful than ever, and
it Is very interesting to watch the brown
ironds develop into perfect leaf Then.
if they are allowed TO remain in the win
dow all summer, the leaves grow more
beautiful and DO not wither, but retain
their greenness all winter and commence
growing earlier, 50 that they are things
Of beauty and Joy forever TN. York
Independent.