Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-12-31

present time, is Phoenix Roebelenii.
The plants are exceedingly hardy, but
| slow growers. / recently saw what
is probably the largest plant of this
species in cultivation in this country.
and it was only about five feet high,
although the tree was many years
old. 1t has a slender. graceful habit.
The most delicately constructed
palm is Cocos Weddelliana, which is
also very slow growing. This is best
used as the central plant in small
centerpiece of palms. In such a posi-
tion 1t will last for a year, IL the
plant is kept in a window at all times
except when used for table decora-
tfon at mealtime.
| The coarsest-growing palm worthy
the attention of the window gardener
is Latania Borhonica. This has large.
broad, fan-lilxe leaves, reminding one
very much Of the palm-leaf fans
which are used in hot weather. have
seen these plants grow indoors for
years.
OF the ferns, there are only a few
which are worth while trying. The
common sword type, of which the
Boston fern is a common specimen,
is perhaps the best. A later variety.
which is much more plumose, and
therefore more beautiful is the va
riety Whitman. There are a num-
Der of these plumose varieties. but,
almost without exception, all but the
! Whitmani will revert to the type of
| the common sword fern.
For a small. delicate fern Poly
stichum augulare is very attractive.
heard of one plant which was
grown for ten years in a window
garden; there is another plant which
| l have had under observation for
over a year, and the window-gar-
| dener, q woman, assures me that she
has had 1t for three years. Once in
q while, in the summer the leaves
will drop off. She just puts it out-of-
doors then, and in only a short time
the plant makes new growth OF
leaves. 1t has feathery foliage. rather
light green in color. A number of
different forms may be purchased of
/ the florists.
| II You Want Blossoms.
The easiest-grown Towering plants
which one may have for the window
garden is the common geranium and,
because it is so common, many
people will not take the trouble to
grow 1t. Nevertheless. there is no
plant which will respond more quick
| ly to good treatment and there are
few Towering plants which will stand
so much neglect. Given a reasonable
amount of care, the plant will be a
mass of flowers all winter. There is
great variety in geraniums, the color
of the flowers varying from white to
very dark red. In addition to the
common one, which is used for bed
ding purposes, there is a wax-leaved
geranium, and there are also others,
| like Mountain of Snow, which are
grown solely for their beautifully
marked foliage. All geraniums pre-
fer a rich, well-drained soil. They dc
not need a large amount of water,
but the soil should be damp at all
4 times. over watering is apt tc make
the leaves turn yellow and produces
a sickIy plant To get plants for
window towering. cuttings should be
made in the spring and the Plants
grown all summer. Plants which are
lused outdoors for bedding may be
dug up. cut back and potted.
Something Red for Christmas.
| AT Christmas time something red i
always priced. There are two red.
| berry plants which one may grow
that will certainly afford a great dea
of amusement. One of these is Ar
disia crenulata, which has red berrie.
that hang on all winter n 1Acts