THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 167 



mental-leaved plants, and the newer ji. crystaUimun, which was 

 exhibited so much last year, it has deep green strap-shaped leaves, 

 coriaceous in texture, about two inches in width, and from fifteen to 

 eighteen inches in length. These somewhat gracefully arching 

 leaves form, as the plants attain a considerable size, elegant tufts, 

 and from the centre spring numerous banner-like spathes, which are 

 of the most intense scarlet, producing, in combination with the 

 deep green foliage, a most brilliant effect. It is undoubtedly one 

 of the most useful of stove flowering plants, both for exhibition pur- 

 poses and home decoration ; and when I was preparing the first 

 edition of my work on " Choice Stove and Greenhouse Plants," I 

 was so impressed with its value, that I selected it in preference to 

 all other plants for the coloured plate facing the frontispiece ; and 

 when the second edition of the work was issued last year, I saw no 

 reason for substituting any other plant for it. It is, in fact, a plant 

 wiiich all amateurs who possess the convenience of a plant stove 

 should have, for, unlike many other plants that are remarkable for 

 their great beauty, it is comparatively easy to cultivate in a successful 

 manner. Of late it has acquired a high degree of importance ; and 

 at the sale of Mr. MichoU's collection of plants, at Southgate House, 

 the other day, the large specimen which has so often been shown 

 with remarkable success by the able gardener, Mr. Baines, realized 

 the handsome sum of £06. Notwithstanding the high price which 

 a large specimen will command, it is not an expensive plant ; and, 

 as will be seen by my catalogue, we are able to supply thrifty plants 

 for five shillings each; and these with the good management, such 

 as I shall recommend, will, in the course of a few years, attain a 

 large size, and form one of the most attractive features in the plant 

 stove. It produces its spathes at various times of the year, principally 

 in the spring ; and by removing the plants to a cooler house, the 

 temperature of which is comparatively dry, they will remain in per- 

 fection at least four months. 



It is of a naturally free habit, and requires a well-drained pot, an 

 open compost, and liberal supplies of water during the growing 

 season. The pot should be rather large in proportion to the size of 

 the plant, and filled to about one-third of its depth with clean crocks 

 of a moderate size. Over these spread a layer of sphagnum moss, and 

 the pot will be ready for the plant. A mixture of rough fibrous peat 

 and sphagnum moss is the most suitable soil, as it afibrds the plants 

 ample sustenance, and at the same time enables the thick fleshy 

 roots to run freely. In shifting plants from one pot to another, the 

 crocks must be carefully removed from the bottom of the ball, and a 

 portion of the old stuft" from the outside picked out when it can be 

 done without injury to the roots. The new stuff" will require to be 

 pressed rather firm. As, like other specieg, it luxuriates in a high 

 temperature and a humid atmosphere, it should have a warm, moist 

 corner in the stove at all times, excepting when in flower. It naust 

 also have liberal supplies of water at the root, excepting when in a 

 cool temperature, and then the supply of water must be less 

 plentiful. 



Eecently I have been able to introduce into cultivation a variety 



June. 



