Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 May 1874 — Window Plants. [ARTICLE]

Window Plants.

“Begonia Rex is otrr finestwariety of begonia,”.isays-the- Cmmtry Gentltmim. ‘Hts immense leaves, tinged with crimson, its blotches of green and white, with its zones of silver,; give it a royal appearance and deserved popularity. The Rex is quite distinct from the other members of the begonia tribe.— J''uchsibdes, Sgutidersonu, and .fiora .;ue- of-a neat habit, with their ■ finely contrasted flowers of scarlet, rose mid while The Erccta multif ora is admired by many, as both its leaves ami flowers are attractive. Tire-Rex,- however, is so incomparably rich that the latter varieties hardly desrve to be classed with it. They need a warm, moist temperature, sixty to seventy-five,degrees, with nd change. Their leaves should be kept free, and contact with the cold window pane will blacken and - ruin them. Coleus are not to be recommended for window culture. Their sensitive nature requires cve'n temperature of the greenhouse. It should have a warm position, with~a. moist atmos r phere and plenty of sunlight that will not fall directly upon its 1 eaves. The lirst chill, howover, will blast it. The cuttings of heliotrope root very easily in either vials of water or sand, and if rooted in the spring' will, with ordinary attention, make fine plants for winter blooming. They should have a good, rich soil, lightened with a little sand. But their life is the bright sunshine. In fact, the name of this plant is derived from Greek words, signifying ‘sun’ and ‘I turn,’ as its flowers always turn their faces to the sun. Keep it in the pot, and in August, prune it closely. Do not spare, the knife, for with the new growth comes a profusion of flowers, which will blossom by January. Give it a,warm place, as high as sixty or seventy degrees; not Uoxer than fifty degrees. — ' Look out fur tiie red spider; fre- ' quent spongings will prevent his l ruining it. Smilax is a bulb, a j iTative of Sou.th Africa. It delights I in a rich, but sandy soil, and ■when I growing, plenty of water. Red spiders are also its enemies. Drive them away by frequent showering. It will grow well in a partially shaded location. Through the summer, keep it in the shade, with but little water. When re-potting in September, give it fresh soil, and stimulate with liquid manure. It is a graceful oriiainent for the parlor bracket, ani its festoons are invaluable for table or other decorations.” . It is announced in other localities that since corn meal and potatoes have reached their present gilt-edged condition, the aristocracy colder it vulgar to diet upon any other food. -