The Garden Under Glass

THE BEST FLOWERING PLANTS 103 5-inch, and finally, if doing well, into 7-inch pots, in which huge plants can be grown. A good open soil and firm potting will suit schizanthuses with no attempt at shading. Never should they want for water, while to allow them to remain root-bound is a deadly sin, the punishment for which is premature flowering and puny plants. It was at one time delivered to me as a doctrine that these plants would not bear feeding. This I have proved to be a heresy, for besides adding Chemical stimulants liberally to the soil I have fed them with liquid cow manure and frequently top-dressed them with Peruvian guano. One or sometimes two pinchings are required to make bushy specimens. Beyond this a neat central stake, frequent tying, and a clear space for development are essential items in successful culture. S. retusus, though beautiful as a cut flower, cannot compare en masse with its more floriferous relative, S. Wisetonensis, and especially with the large-flowering hybrid forms which are now so populär. Streptocarpus If the gloxinia is populär, so also should be the streptocarpus, for in many respects they partake of the same character and culturally may be grown and flowered together. The plants do not present so striking an appear-ance, nor are the flowers arrayed with such gorgeous colours, but considering the improvements made in them during the last decade, I would certainly advise their inclusion among the best flowering plants. Seeds must be sown in the early part of the year and be diligently attended to. Prick off into o ther pans or a box when large enough, but do not pot them until they have