156 THE FLORIST. 



a stove temperature. The most valuable, as decorative plants, requiring 

 the protection of a glass structure, are those that are ot" dwarf compact 

 habit, with elegance and beauty of flower or tbliage. These qualities will 

 at all times recommend themselves, whereas plants of an arborescent 

 nature are totally useless in this country, with one or two exceptions ; 

 for such plant houses as the large Palm house at Kew, the conservatory 

 at Chatsworth, and one or two others, there is no place to accommodate 

 them : and even for such houses as those there are so many beautiful 

 plants that it is desirable to cultivate, that there is room only for 

 very few of the large growing kinds. Of another section, by far too 

 numerous, are those that are termed of " botanical interest." Now, if 

 an ordinary admirer were to see a collection of those botanical curiosities 

 he would undoubtedly condemn them to be consigned to the rubbish 

 heap, and with great justice ; for however interesting they may be in a 

 botanical point of view, they are not what are required for tilling up 

 our plant houses. 



That we possess a great number of plants that can scarcely be 

 surpassed in beauty and adaptability is evident to those who have been 

 accustomed to visit the metropolitan exhibitions ; but on the other hand, 

 if we glance over a list of plants that have been introduced to this 

 country during the last two or three years, we shall see the names 

 of many that are worthy of every attention requisite to bring them to 

 their highest point of perfection, and amongst that number will be found 

 the name which heads this paper. 



This Thyrsacanthus was, I believe, brought to this country from 

 Belgium, and will undoubtedly compensate for many disappointments, 

 allowing what has been stated to be true. It is a plant of easy 

 culture, growing freely when treated as the well-known Justicia carnea, 

 which plant it much resembles in habit of growth. In that of 

 flowering, however, it is so totally distinct as to lend quite a new charm 

 to our plant houses. The flowers are produced on pendulous branching 

 stems of from two to three feet in length ; the flowers are tubulous, 

 nearly two inches long, and are of a bright scarlet colour, and certaiidy 

 there are few plants so easy of cultivation possessing such desirable 

 qualities, for with it are combined brilliancy and an elegance which 

 can scarcely be surpassed. It is also in possession of another quality 

 that will recommend it to many — that of flowering during the winter 

 months ; for however much the exhibitors at our summer flower shows 

 may regret this quality, to the many it will enhance its value. For 

 the last few years there has been a great love of plants trained as 

 standards, and this " rage " has led many to train plants as such 

 without regard to their natural habits, or at least one would suppose 

 such to be the case, as there is not much in the habit of an Azalea or a 

 Geranium to point to that system of training ; and if such plants do 

 look well it arises from the fact that they cannot do otherwise when in 

 good health and full of bloom. With the Thyrsacanthus, however, it 

 is quite different, for undoubtedly that is the most natural, consequently 

 the best, and it would look quite as unsightly if dwarfed by too frequent 

 stopping, as some do when mounted on a naked stem of three feet in 

 height. 



J. Shuter. 



