Abutilon

This is a race of shrubby, green-house plants, well adapted for the parlor or around garden statuary. They are free growers, of upright habit, and unless judiciously pruned, will soon outgrow their quarters. They are natives of South America and New Holland.

The proper soil is, two parts loam, two of leaf mould, and one of sand. If the soil is too rich, the growth-will be too rapid for the full development of the side branches. Keep the plant moderately moist. The best varieties for parlor culture are: A. venosum, with large yellow flowers with red veins; A. Bedfordianum, flowers much of the same character. A. striatum, one of our prettiest window plants; always in bloom, and beautiful from its profusion of pendulous, veined, red and yellow blossoms all winter.

There are many other varieties, some with white, others with red flowers, but they are not recommended for house plants. The variegated-leaved kinds lose their coloring under window culture.

Thunbergia

These pretty plants are usually grown as annuals with us, for summer decoration in the flower garden; but they also make fine window plants. For this purpose, sow the seed in August in pots; as the plants grow, transplant one to each pot, and train the slender shoots on a neat trellis.

Give plenty of sun, and syringe very often, for the plants are very subject to attacks of red spider. They will show bloom about the middle of January, and produce a profusion during the winter and spring months. The plants will show bud very early, but if they are allowed to bloom, growth will stop; therefore it is best to pick off all the flower buds until the plant is of the required size, when they may be allowed to open.

Cuttings root very freely in sand, under a bell glass. The soil should be one part turfy loam, one part peat, one part well-rotted manure. Water moderately.

The varieties are as follows: T. alata, buff yellow, with a black center; T. alata aurantia, deep orange, with black center; T. alata alba, white, with black center. There are also some superb hot-house species.

Lemon Verbena

A half-hardy deciduous shrub, from Chile; the only species is A. citriodora, commonly called Lemon Verbena. It is valuable only for the fragrance of the leaves, the flowers being small, whitish lilac, and of little beauty. As a winter plant it is of no value, as it needs a season of rest, which must be given it in a cellar free from frost.

The best treatment is, to plant it out in spring in the flower border, where it will make vigorous growth. In the fall, before the first frost, remove the plant with a ball of earth to the cellar. In spring, trim the plant into a neat shape, and re-plant it. If grown in pots, the proper soil is two parts of loam, two of leaf mould, and a slight mixture of sand. While the plants are growing, give plenty of water, but withhold it entirely during the winter.