166 TUE FLORIST. 



cult to name a more attractive plant than a moderate sized specimen of 

 the Sonerila, when well covered with bloom. It is also much more 

 accommodating in its habits than some of our variegated plants, being 

 of easy culture, and readily increased to any desirable extent ; and for 

 amateurs and persons liavnig but small accommodation for stove plants, 

 it is a real gem. It would appear, however, that there are two varie- 

 ties of this plant in cultivation, the one having the markings on the 

 foliage much larger and clearer than the other; and persons having yet 

 to })i.irchase will do well to make sure that they procure this variety, 

 which is very much handsomer than the variety with the smaller spots. 

 But, as it is stated in your remarks accompanying your plate ot this 

 plant, — and this, doubtless, on the authority of Mr. Veitch, — that it 

 may be propagated from seed, it is probable that the plants which the 

 Messrs. Veitch supplied had been obtained in that manner. Be this as 

 it may, however, your representation is either unworthy of Mr. Andrews, 

 or the variety represented there is greatly inferior to one in cultivation ; 

 hence those who, like myself, may not have been fortunate enough to 

 obtain the best variety have no cause to find fault with the Messrs. 

 Veitch, for having served some of their customers better than they had 

 engaged to do. But either variety is well worthy a place in every col- 

 lection, for the foliage of the worst is very pretty; and when the plant 

 is covered with its trusses of rose and yellow coloured flowers, it would 

 be difficult to name a more attractive subject for decorative purposes ; 

 and then it blooms at a season when attention is not diverted from it 

 by the presence ofsucli showy plants in bloom as Echiteses, Dipladenias, 

 &c., and it also remains long in beauty. 



Fortunately this charmingly pretty subject appears to be as easily 

 managed as it is beautiful ; but it is more than probable that, with our 

 present limited experience, we may not have hit upon the best treat- 

 ment for it. I will, therefore, only profess to state the treatment I 

 have adopted, and leave your readers to judge for themselves, whether 

 it is the most suitable that could be pursued. My plant, which was a 

 very small bit in a four-inch pot, came to hand about the middle of 

 May last ; and as I entertained a very high opinion of it, special care 

 and attention were afforded it from the first. I was afraid, however, to 

 treat it too kindly at first, lest it should damp off; and for two or three 

 weeks it occupied a shady place near the glass on a shelf in the stove. 

 When it had made some little progress, and I had obtained a cutting, 

 it was re-potted, plunged in moss in a ten-inch pot, covered with a 

 large bell glass, aud plunged in a brisk bottom heat. The glass was 

 removed at night for some time, until it was evident that there was no 

 danger of the plant damping off; and then the glass was only raised a 

 little on one side for a night or two after watering. Here it grew 

 rapidly, and towards the middle of July was shifted into a nine-inch 

 pot, plunged in moss again and treated as before. Shortly after this, 

 however, the foliage began to curl and damp at the points ; and to pre- 

 vent this, it was removed to a shady part of the house, the bell glass 

 removed and kept rather dry, which, to a great extent, had the desired 

 effect of checking the evil; and I fancy it will be found that the old 

 leaves are subject to get disfigured, especially if they are allowed to 



