4 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. • 



numerous trusses of delicate rosy-pink flowers. The third is Hebe- 

 dinlum ianthiiium, with large foliage, and trusses of pale blue flowers 

 that are borne at the ends of the shoots, and resemble in appearance 

 enormous blue ageratuins. These three plants always come into 

 flower in mid-winter, and make first-rate subjects for cutting from 

 for bouquets and decorations. They are easily grown in a mixture 

 of sandy peat one half, the other half loam and leaf-mould. The 

 mixture is to be used in a rough state for flowering plants, but for 

 young growing plants, flner. Cut them back in March, after they 

 have done blooming, and j)artly remove the old soil from the roots 

 ■without damaging them, and repot at once. Keep close and warm 

 until they have broken out freely with young shoots ; and then water 

 liberally and sprinkle freely overhead, to ensure a clean and sturdy 

 growth. When the young shoots are about three inches in length, 

 the plants may be removed to a more airy situation, and as close to 

 the glass as possible, so as to well ripen the wood and set the flower- 

 buds for the next winter. During the summer they will have to be 

 just shaded from the midday sun, and the cultivator must see they 

 have plenty of water and air. 



The Bouvardlas are good winter-blooming plants, and, as for 

 colours, they ofler abundant variety, from pure white to a brilliant 

 crimson. Leiantha is a very bright scarlet, better than Brilliant ; 

 Leiantha grandis is carmine-orange, Delicata is a soft rose, Flava is a 

 laro-e yellow, Jasmlnioides, a pure white ; jRosea Scdmonia is a bright 

 rose shaded with salmon ; Vrcelendi is pure white. Now these will 

 be enough in variety, and, as they are all winter-blooming kinds, will 

 answer our purpose well. Anyone who can grow a geranium well can 

 grow these, and the same soil suits them ; but, to ensure their bloom- 

 ing at this season, do not stop the young wood after August ; from 

 that time let it run on to form the bloomiug wood. But, all the 

 spring and summer before that time, let the wood be occasionally 

 pinched back, so as to encourage the formation of short stubby 

 plants. 



The EpifhjUum triuicatum, with its varieties of rose and scarlet, 

 are very attractive objects from the end of November until late in the 

 spring. Plants grafted on stems about 18 inches to 2 feet high, 

 form quite umbrella-shaped heads, and produce hundreds of blossoms. 

 "When grown thus they form splendid objects. Smaller plants, when 

 in bloom, show themselves well oft' when placed in a hanging basket ; 

 for the blooms are seen to the best advantage, as they are naturally 

 of a pendulous habit. They require a mixture of sifted lime-rubbish, 

 sharp sand, yellow loam, and leaf-mould, in about equal proportions. 

 If large plants are required, they must have plenty of root-room 

 when they are growing, aod be moderately supplied with water. Do 

 not allow them to become hard and dry, for if you do they will not 

 flower satisfactorily. They require to be kept in a hot sunshiny 

 corner in the greenhouse all the summer. 



The following isix varieties are very fine: Russell ianum, TlticJceri- 

 anum, Aurantiacum, Violaceiwi, Jlaynificum, Spccfuhile. They re- 

 quire a good warm place to open out their flowers well in winter, 

 and a cool stove is the best place for them. 



