The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-12-28

flowers that hang on day after day. The
rex begonias are little more difficult to
grow. but are worth all the trouble, the
leaves are so handsome. They want heat,
moisture, no sun, but plenty of light,
no water or dust on their leaves. In fact,
they are very genteel, and remind me of
some beings of the gentler sex who are very
ornamental in the parlor but do not seem to
take kindly to the homely, rough work of
everyday life.
If YOU have fern case or glass shade you
can have them 1.-THE plants, / mean) in per-
lection, if you open the glass every day for
a few moments to let out the extra moisture.
The newer varieties of coeus make beauti-
full window plants, with plenty of sun and
heat. The cyclamen is one of the best win
dow plants; it blooms all Winter, and each
flower remains in perfection long time.
The new fuchsia, Earl of Beacon sfield, is a
handsome Winter bloomer, with carmen
scarlet flowers three inches or more in length.
The Chinese hibiscus are very snowy win
dow plants; have handsome evergreen
leaves. H. fulgidus has large flowers shaped
like single hollyhock, carmine scarlet, with
a crimson blotch at the base of each petal.
II. splendens fore pleno has very snowy
double scarlet flowers. They like a south
window. Jasminum grandiforum is hard
wooded climber with white, star-shaped,
sweet-scented flowers that are freely pro-
duced. Laurustinus is hard-wooded shrub
with glossy leaves and large clusters of pure
white flowers like elder blossoms, blooms all
Winter, does not want much heat. This has
been cultivated many years, but is not often
seen. Another old plant that deserves
place in the window garden is
the daphne, lovely evergreen plant
with clusters of waxy pink flowers,
very fragrant, blooms from December to
May. Rivimia numilis is pretty pct plant
with racemes of small white flowers, fol-
lowed by scarlet berries, making it orna-
mental all the time. Steyias and eupatori-
ums are good for the house, have q profus-
ion of small white flowers that last long
time. The new heliotrope, Snow Wreath,
is almost white, very fragrant and grows
large. / have one in the greenhouse, cut
ting put in last Fall, that measured this
Spring five feet across. 1t was planted in
solid bed and had plenty of rich earth for its
roots to run in. Give plenty of water, rich
earth and the sunniest spot you have. The
gold and silver tricolor geraniums are hand
some. should not let them bloom give
rich earth and set as near the glass as you
can. Some people never turn them, but let
them grow fiat like a fan; they make a nice
show from the street, but of course do not
look as well inside. Mountain of Snow is a
good, white-edged geranium; Mrs. Pollock
and Sunset are handsome tricolors; Marshal
MacMahon is one of the best bronze; Cloth
of Gold, clear yellow.
Ivy geraniums are excellent for pots or
baskets. L'Elegante is one of the best, both
in foliage and flower. Some of the new
double varieties are good, but not as free
blooming. The new double sweet alyssum
with variegated foliage makes pretty plant;
the green and white foliage and pure white
flowers are both pleasing, and it has the
| fragrance Of new-mown hay. The new
| ageratum, John Douglass, grows about eight
| inches high, has lavender blue flowers, that
| last long time in peril ction. 1t can be
| grown from seed or cuttings. If you want
| a real "true biue' flower, plant some bron-
| allia seed in August, or start some cuttings,
| and you will have nice plants all Winter.
The white variety is very pretty. You will
want a pot of mignonette for fragrance.
Plant the seed in August in box of sandy
| soil; when they have made three pairs of
leaves, transplant into fve-inch pots, three
| in pot; handle carefully, as they are tap
rooted and wilt easily; pick off the first buds,
| and let the plants grow stocky before bloom
| ing. They like to be kept cool. Hoya
carnosa (called sometimes wax plant, al
| though dollhouse climber, viii grow in a
warm room; trained on fat trelis, its thick,
| glossy leaves show off handsomely, and
| WHeu IL piooIno (WHICH IL uOeS Twice year,
| Spring and FALL tits beautiful. The flowers
are in clusters, star-shaped, centre a deep
maroon, and look as if stamped from velvet:
each flower secretes drop of pure honey:
| the same fiOwer-stem remains year after year,
| the old flower dropping off and new buds
| forming in the same place. So you are
sure, after your plant once begins to bloom,
| it will continue for an indefinite time, pro-
| vided you do not cut off the flower-stem. II
| you do it will not bloom in that place again.
The fiower-stems often appear year before
they bloom, and remain to all appearance
| dormant; when the time comes for blooming
they suddenly enlarge, and are in bloom be-
fore you are aware of it. 1t is long-lived
plant. have had one ten years; know of
others who have had them longer. | have
read of lady who has had one thirty years.
1t must seem quite like one of the family