Pittosporum

This is an old-fashioned plant, a favorite for its fragrant flowers rather than for any beauty of foliage or blossom; the former is dull green, the latter dirty white.

The common variety (P. Tobira) is a native of New South Wales, and in England is a hardy wall plant; with us it is a parlor plant, blooming from February to May. For soil, use three parts loam, with one each of leaf mould, sand, and manure.

Water freely while in bloom and growth. During the summer, set the plant in a sheltered situation out of doors. The leaves need frequent washings, to keep them free from dust. This plant will thrive with very little sun.

Jasmine

A family of favorite climbing shrubs, and very pretty for window culture, alike desirable for their neat foliage and fragrant flowers. The flowers are white or yellow, and produced from February to June, or later.

The soil should be equal parts of loam and peat, with a slight admixture of sand. The only insect attacking them is scale, which a little care in washing will soon remove. With common room culture, they grow to a large size and make superb plants.

Water should be rather freely given. They should be trained on neat trellises, and the branches allowed to droop. The most desirable varieties are:

J. Azoricum: White flowers in summer.
J. Odoratissimum: Yellow flowers in spring.
J. Multiflorum: White flowers in spring.
J. Nuliflorum: Yellow flowers in spring.

Calceolaria

The best way to grow this pretty plant is by raising seedlings. Sow seeds in August, in light, rich loam; transplant the young plants to separate pots; pinch out the center of the plant, and continue to do so until the plant is of the required blooming size.

As the roots of the plant touch the pot, re-pot into a size larger. When the flower stems push up, tie them neatly to sticks. Be careful in watering not to give too much, or your plants will damp off. Give all the sun and air possible, and keep the plants as close to the glass as you can.

The proper soil is three parts light, rich loam, one of fine peat, one of sand. The shrubby varieties are seldom grown as window plants, but are reserved for the flower garden. Under the treatment given above, they grow and bloom well.

Mahernia

This is a lovely flower and a general favorite, always blooming, and always attractive with its fragrant yellow bells. Its tendency is to grow straggling; therefore it is best to select a plant with a straight stem. Tie up the main stem as it grows, and by continued pinching restrain the too luxuriant growth.

M. odorata is the variety chiefly grown. M. Hector and Diana are pretty orange and pink varieties. For soil, use four parts loam, one of sand, one of manure. Keep the plants moist, but not wet, and give as much sun as possible. In bloom from February to May and when coupled with a great garden collection of statuary, planters, and water fountains can make a great garden perfect.

Chinese Primrose

Both the single and double varieties of this plant are pretty for window gardening. Sow the seed in July, in a fine soil, as directed for calceolarias, and treat the plant the same, except the pinching. By January, nice little blooming plants will be formed; give them sun and air and do not allow them to over bloom, as they are apt to do.

After bloom is over, set them out of doors (about June), and on no account allow them to bloom during the summer. Grow them well until autumn, then re-pot in blooming pots, and by Christmas they will begin to show flower, and keep up a succession until spring. For soil, use one part turfy loam, one part well decomposed cow dung, one part peat, and one part sand.

Be sure the pots are well drained, and never keep the plants very wet. The colors are red, rosy, lilac, white, striped, and mottled, with fringed and plain edges.