THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 215 



Allamanda is a splendid genus for our stoves, though from 

 being generally seen tied to round-headed trellises, and made to 

 look as devoid of grace or freedom as the stiffest-tied New Holland 

 bush, they might almost be left out of the nurseryman's list of 

 " stove climbers." They are capable of highly successful cultivation 

 in pots, but that is no reason Avhy we should not oftener see them 

 depending in beauty from the roofs of stoves. They will hardly be 

 grown well where the principles and practices of good cultivation 

 are not carried out, although not very fastidious. Bottom-heat and 

 free culture, with plenty of light, are essential to marked success 

 with these plants, A pit with bottom-heat suits their wants exactly 

 during the growing season, as, indeed, it does those of a great 

 number of choice stove plants, for who ever moved a lot of plants 

 from the "stove" to a good warm pit with bottom-heat afforded by 

 tan or leaves, etc., mixed, without seeing a change for the better 

 come over them that could never occur in the ordinary hothouse ? 

 Doubtless the reason of this is that in a pit with bottom-heat there 

 is regular and abundant moisture in the atmosphere, and moreover 

 the plants are much nearer the glass and light than they usually are 

 in stoves. Allamandas m.ust be "ripened off" in the autumn, and 

 started into growth in spring again as vigorously if possible as 

 young vines. Like them, too, they should be induced to ripen their 

 wood well, and in spring the plants may be pruned well back. 

 AVhen growing vigorously in spring, the shoots may be stopped once 

 or twice with advantage. A. ScJiotiii^ Auhletii, and grandiflora are 

 among the best, if not the very best. 



Cleeodexdeon Thomsoxi-E. — A good new stove climber is very 

 rarely introduced, and when it is, in the majority of cases its good- 

 ness is only sufficient to keep it before the eye of the horticultural 

 public for a few years, when its novelty wears off, and there being 

 no distinct merit it falls out of repute, and perhaps out of culti- 

 vation ; but this fate cannot happen to the comparatively new 

 Clerodendron Thomsonice, which for thorough distinctness and merit 

 is unsurpassed among stove climbers. It is easily grown and flowered 

 by the treatment usually awarded to stove subjects worth growing, 

 and should be in every stove of the slightest pretensions. 



Boijgaiis'villea speciosa. — Bougainvillea may be beautifully 

 grown in an " intermediate house " or cool stove, or even in a warm 

 and light greenhouse. It is desirable that the plant should be allowed 

 to make a good free growth near the glass, and that growth should 

 not be pruned back, for it is probable that annual cutting back, and 

 thus removing the ripened and flower-bearing wood, has been the 

 cause of many failures with the Bougainvillea. It may be well 

 grown in a tub or large pot, or in a little brick bed so drained or 

 arranged that the roots cannot get into the wet and humid soil 

 which often abounds in the floor of stoves, under the tiles, in old 

 beds, etc. Bougainvillea glabra is freely bloomed by Mr. Turner, of 

 Slough, in 48-size pots, and in great places it is often seen as a 

 stove " tree" twenty feet high ; glabra is not so beautiful as speciosa. 



DiPLADENiAS. — The fine and delicately-coloured flowers of the 

 Dipladenias must grace every good collection of stove climbers, and, 



