The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Window Gardener

Plants For Window Gardening, Continued

MYRTLE: History.—Soil.—Culture.—Varieties. ACHAENIA: Ease of growing. — Soil. ABUTILON : Culture. — Soil. — Varieties. THUNBER- GIA : Sowing-. — Training. — Insects. — Soil. — Varieties. ALOYSIA, OR LEMON VERBENA : Culture. — Soil. — Watering. CALLA : Resting. — Blooming-. — Soil. CUPHEA : Culture. — Potting. — Soil. CACTUS : Di- visions of the Family. — Cereus : Summer Treatment. — Pruning. — Wa-tering. — Varieties of Cereus,—Epiphyllum: Soil. — Varieties. HYDRAN GEA: Culture. —Soil.—Effect of Iron. AGAPANTHUS: Soil. —Win- tering- Watering. — Varieties. OLEANDER: Flowering. — Soil. — Va- rieties. PITTOSPORUM: Varieties. — Soil. JASMINE: Soil. — Culture Water. — Varieties. CALCEOLARIA : Sowing. — After Culture. — Soil. MAHERNIA : Description. —- Soil. — Varieties. PRIMULA : Sowing. — Treatment. —- Soil. —Description. SOLANUM: A Parlor Ornament.— Culture. — Soil. LAURESTINUS: Description. — Washing. HOYA: Description. —Flowering.— Watering. CHRYSANTHEMUMS: Culture.Watering. — Soil. — Varieties. BEGONIA : Varieties. — Situation. — Watering. — Soil.

THE MYRTLE

MYRTLES are natives of Europe, New Holland, and China. They are hard- wooded, evergreen shrubs, possessing a peculiar, agreeable fragrance, and have always been favorites for parlor culture.

The soil should be three parts loam, with one part of sand and one of leaf moulds

They do not require very large pots, and flourish well in almost any situation.They require moderate washing, and watering, and plenty of light and air during the growing season, which is in summer, when they should be put out of doors in a shady place, yet not under the drip of trees. The flowers are usually white, and produced in profusion in midsummer. M. communis is the common plant of our parlors, of which there are many varieties, with small and large leaves, variegated foliage, and flowers single or double.

M. tenuifolia is a New Holland species ; a fine plant for parlor culture.
M. tomentosa is a fine Chinese species, with purple flowers changing to white, so that flowers of many shades are seen at once on the same plant. It should be more generally grown, being equally hardy, except it is impatient of exposure to the hot sun.