The morning journal-courier., 1908-12-26
Towering Plants for the
 Christmas Season.

As we are now approaching the shortest days with the holiday time al most at hand, few suggestions about window plants might not come amiss
 In the line of decorating plants the Boston ferns, rubber plants and asphldlstras seem to be always with us and though rather common a well grown specimen of any of these with clean, we'll kept foliage, is certainly something from which great pleasure may be derived
 The assortment of Towering plants In blooming condition during this month Is very limited, only few species and not always the finest varieties arc In perfection so early in the winter
 The supply of bulbous flowers is con fined exclusively to the Roman hyacinth and paper white narcissus, but they are both very uFeful, and with abundant watering will succeed in nearly any situation; amors other plants in bloom we have q few azaloas principally of the white and purplIsh rose colors, some early Chinese prln roses are now showing, and the easily grown. continuous blooming primula obconica the later hybrds of this primrose are greatly improved both in the colorng and size of the flowers Occasionally a cyclamen is found in advanced condition; this plant Is one of the most useful to buy as the flow ering season Is quite prolonged,
 limited number of cincrarias will be coming by the end of the month, but the finer specimens need not be expect cd till the time of longer days and sunlight The pretty little white heath (Irica persoluta alba) is now showing bloom and if given proper care, not too warm, and neither too dry or water soaked, Is a very satisfactory window plant. Tt seems strange how often this plant Is enormously called Scotch heather The delicate little sterIa with It's delicious aromatic fragrance is now in full bloom, even the cut sprays arc possessed of long lasting properties. For brilliancy of color nothing ap- breaches the poinsettia, the vivid scar let tracts are about as showy as any thing in the floral line the plants re- uulre an abundance of heat, sunlight and water, though the leaves are apt to drop in the house. leaving an un- galnly looking specimen, The floral tracts sometimes remain in perfection, for several weeks. If short young | plants with one good head of color can he procured they are unenuallcd to place in window as fOil to the mass of green leaves. Should freshly cut flower stems be in market they will last in water almost as long as if grow ing on the plant.
 Perhaps it Is decree of fashion that | they are out of date, but some of us certainly miss q few of the old fash toned sweet flowers of former years. Take the Mahcrna as an example, we have nothing at this day that compares in fragrance, What a charming sight to see fine specimen completely coy cred with the golden bells, and the delicate Odor suffused through the whole house, or the sweet olive (Olea l fragrance) with the glossy leaves and delicate white flowers scented like dis titled mignonette, then the sweet daphue (daphue adora) with clusters of | pinkish tubular flowers surrounded hy dark glossy leaves, and the most en- chanting odor
 There arc probably 3 few of these old time favorites still grown in some private greenhouses in this neghbor- hood and to many of us their return to cultivation would be a great relief from the regular stereotyped form of flowers that fashion seems to demand
 
 h Mark sheets in one corner and pillow cases on the wrong side of the hem ,1 .iI is fta1nn,, ,,uaJ fn,