The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-09-20
FLOWERS FOR CHRISTMAS
NOW rs THE TIME FOR THE M
DOOR GARDENER TO START.
Many Plants That Can he Raised in the
House by One Who Is WILLING to Give
n Little Time and Care-Forcing
blossoms From Fruit Tree Branches.

a Little Time and Care-Forcins
Blossoms From Fruit Tree Branches.
Now Is the time for the window gar
dener to start plants IL she expects to
have blooms for Christmas said a florist
who makes a speciality Of supplying the
Christmas trade. When the reporter
suggested that it might be difhcult, IL
not impossible. to- grow holiday plants
under home conditions the florist shook
his head as he answered: AS the growth
Of the window collections is slower. plants
must be started earlier. That is about
the only difference. A slow. cool growth
insures @ plants ability to endure hard
ships under which greenhouse tenderlings
would quickly perish,
"The Norfolk Island pine is no longer
the only Christmas tree growable in the
window garden. Dwarf hollies and
even lemons and oranges can be grown
in the window with success and II started
in time and handled with ordinary in
telligenoe will be ready for Christmas
decoration or gifts. While l should rec
omniend purchasing shrubs OF this de-
soription at the bearing age, where the
person has time and space they a easily
be raised from the seeds. The ardisia
will hold berries more than a year II winter
night temperature To- kept at from As
to so degrees. Oranges and lemons re-
quire rich soil and plenty Of water. Fruit
that is set in June will color for Christmas
Both require the full sun. Grated plants
are always the best for the window gar
dener. both in oranges. lemons and holly.
Hollies are best buried in thin dry soil.
Peppers and Jerusalem cherries also
make effective Christmas decorations
and may be easily grown in the window
for Christmas. Should the fruits and
berries Of these plants color too slowly
to be ready for Christmas a little less
water at the roots. more in the air and a
slightly higher temperature will give
the desired results. About the most
satisfactory method Of doing this is by
placing a tea kettle on q small oil stove
in the room and keeping 1t boiling. Any
drought or chill will cause these plants
to shed their fruit while overwatering
will make their leaves fall.
where the 1owering plants which
are to be forced for Christmas have been
growing in the open ground all the sum-
MGR they should be lifted at once. as
they must have time to recover from
torn roots and changed conditions. Their
wood must be ripened after growth is
made, their buds formed and their roots
well established in the pots before heat
Is applied. Immediately after lifting
water the plants thoroughly and place in
a shaded sheltered nook for several days.
sprinkling occasionally.
aThe single white lilac, Marie Legraye,
is perhaps the best suited to forcing in
windows. The Charles X. and Louis
ties. They require from five to sig weeks
for forcing In a temperature Of from
fffty-fve to sixty-fve. 1t is best to buy
grated plants at least a year old Of q
florist. The glowing crimson red flow
ers Of the crab cactus are easily forced
for Christmas. This plant iourishes in
the window garden without special care.
Christmas heath is another plant espe-
cially suited to that season, Many people
confuse this with the Scotch heather,
which has a minute pink flower and is
not adapted to window culture.
sOf course there are several varieties
OF bulbs that are admirably adapted to
hyacinths should be potted In September,
brought into the house in November. or
before the first frost; tulips, freesias and
paper white norcissi should be ported a
few days later but brought in about the
same time. Most bulbs require from six
to eight weeks in the dark for root growth
they are ready to force. Where the
hyacinths show ciublike flower stems a
pot should be inverted over the plant to
|engthen the stem. Tulips should always
be shaded when first brought indoors
Or their flowers will be almost stemless.
About the gayest flower for Christmas is