JUNE. 115 



CULTURE OF ACHIMENES. 



The various attractions of this lovely tribe of plants render them 

 especially adapted for decorative purposes. Their numerous gay 

 and pleasing shades of colour, their variety of form and foHage, com- 

 bined with a generally compact habit of growth and profusion of 

 bloom, their easy cultivation and their flowering in a small state, are 

 all qualities which especially recommend them to the notice of ama- 

 teurs of limited means. Though essentially summer-flowering plants, 

 the season of bloom may be prolonged for some months by a succes- 

 sion of younger growth, and where a sufficiency of light and heat 

 can be obtained, some kinds, as Picta, and others of like habit, 

 may be kept in flower during winter. Their more attractive season 

 is, however, the summer and autumn months. During the growing 

 period they delight in a warm, moist atmosphere, and when in bloom 

 they may be removed to a close part of the conservatory or green- 

 house, or, if required, to a sitting-room, but the blooms will not be 

 so fine there as in a more genial atmosphere. 



The general method of obtaining plants is from the small scaly- 

 like tubers of the previous year's growth, which are produced in 

 abundance. For winter-blooming it is, however, more desirable to 

 propagate from cuttings put in in the latter part of summer. This 

 method is also adopted for increasing new or rare kinds ; but this 

 being more the nurseryman's province than that of the amateur, I 

 shall confine myself to general management. 



The time at which the tubers may be started must depend on 

 the season at which the plants are required in bloom ; if started in 

 February, the more dwarf-growing kinds will flower early in June, 

 and a succession of tubers planted up to that time will ensure bloom- 

 ing plants to the latter part of autumn. Presuming that a supply of 

 tubers of desirable kinds are at hand, they should be carefully shaken 

 out of the soil they have been kept in during their season of rest, 

 some well-drained pots or pans should be provided, and filled to 

 within two inches of the top with a light rich sandy soil. On this 

 the tubers should be placed rather thickly, and covered to the depth 

 of an inch ; they should then be moved to a close warm situation ; a 

 pit or frame, where a little bottom-heat is available for plunging the 

 pots in, is most suitable when started early in the season. Water 

 should be given sparingly until the plants appear above the soil, 

 when a more liberal supply will be necessary ; but in this and the 

 later stages of growth it should be judiciously applied, as the Achi- 

 menes is very susceptible of injury by overwatering at the roots. 

 When about two inches high, the plants may be potted into six or 

 seven-inch pots. If it be desirable to flower them in this size, from 

 four to six plants will be sufficient for each pot ; but if larger speci- 

 mens can be conveniently accommodated, a larger number, say eight 

 to twelve plants, will be requisite. After potting, place them in a 

 close warm house for a few days ; when re-established, air may be 

 admitted more freely on favourable occasions, and the plants kept 



