Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-05

porting a cluster Of Insignificant yeilowish
flowers
There should be at least two stalks in
q pot and three or even five give a much
better effect. / know OF nothing more
effective for winter indoor decoration than
a few poinsettas Of varying height ar
ranged with a group Of pure foliage plants.
Unfortunately these plants will not
stand d~raughts. When subjected 70 chills
the leaves shrlvel and fall. Without a
greenhouse il is quite useless TO try to
carry one over to another year. Even
with a greenhouse II good plants are de-
sired It is necessary TO raise them each
season from cuttings.
The bee heath is the most satisfactory
winter Towering heath. The flowers are
small. but II makes up in profusion what
1t lacks in size. II treated like an asalea
II will flower the following year. l have
known OF plants that bloomed winter after
winter In window gardens, receiving only
the attention bestowed on ordinary red
geraniums.
1T is a snowy plant and inexpensive.
The cyclamen is another SNOWY Towering
plant that may be had for a small price.
II one cares to take the time II can be
readily raised from seed in a window gar
den.
mot My are the flowers beautiful in
both color and form, but the foliage is
prettily marked and very ornamental when
the plant is thrifty. Like the ordinary
geraniums it thrives with a minimum OF
care il only protected from the frosts. 1t
Is excellent as a table decoration.
Orchid for the House.
There is only one orchid that / recon-
mend as a house plant under ordinary
conditions. 1t is the lady's slipper, with
flowers Of yellowish green and browns
Though 1t is not very snowy It is an or
child. and that fact alone makes it inter
esting to the average flower lover. !
The flowers, even when cut, last a
long time. 1t can be grown in the living
room as easily as a geranium and will
blossom profusely in the dead of winter,
when there are few other flowers to be
had.
Besides these plants desirable because
Of their flowers there are two red berries
shrubs especially suitable for Christmas
decorations and particularly desirable be-
cause the berries endure from one year to
another. The ardisia Is formal in appear
ance with alternate tiers Of red berries
and rich green leaves.
Besides being extremely beautiful it Il
about as hardy as any house plant thai
l know. It will endure for years, both the
leaves and berries keeping their coloi
and luster in the alternate heat and chill
Of the ordinary living room. with a vary.
ing degree Of moisture and as much or al
little light as you will supply. / recon
mend 1t highly to persons who are look
H.. g.. - ,~rara.,Vau I.,,n. r1..N a..
will grow under adverse conditions. IT
berries are about the same size and colo.
as the holly. while its leaves lack the un
pleasant prickly spines.
The second desirable red berried hous
plant Is the skimmia, which, though ia
less often seen. Is quite as desirable as tn
ardisla. These plants are imported fror
Europe and are already in fun berry whei
they arrive. A plant OF this kind Shout
be cared for as the azalea and will flouris-
under the same conditions. II kept ava
, from the frosts It will do very well in tn
window Of the average living room.
One with yellow berries.
a fitting companion for these two re
, berried plants is the small fruited Otaheit
orange. 1t is the only plant with a vel
, low berry to be had at this season. VI
fortunately the fruit Is neither so plentif
: nor 50 lasting as either the ardisia or u
skimmia berries. It has, however, the a
vantage Of being easily carried over fro
one season to another. 1t can be success
fully grown in a window, where II wi
bloom and add a welcome fragrance to tn
room.
T make your holiday plants renal
attractive as long as possible, after maxim
a judicious selection you must be carefl
to keep them In a cool room. II va
must keep them in a warm, dry room
careful about opening windows near Il
plants, as a drsught will make them drC
their leaves and berries about as quick
IS lack OF water on their roots.