THE FLORAL WORLD 



AND 



GARDEN GUIDE. 



APRIL, 1869. 

 GESNEBAS. 



WITH FIGUKE OF GESXERA EXOXIEXS1S. 



UCH may be said in praise of the genus of plants to which 

 our attention is directed by the subject selected for 

 illustration. They combine in an interesting manner 

 beautiful leaves with beautiful flowers, attractions which 

 are not commonly combined in the same plant. One 

 of the great merits of these plants is their flowering at a time when 

 our houses are rather deficient of bright sparkling flowers ; and by a 

 little management in starting the bulbs, a succession of flowering 

 plants can be obtained throughout the whole of the winter. This 

 is no small recommendation, when we take into account their 

 adaptability for table decoration. JSTo other plant, or class of plants, 

 can be grown to a more convenient size or shape than these, and 

 their foliage and flowers show to great advantage under artificial 

 light. 



The cultural details will show, as we proceed, that to do justice, 

 and to have Gesneras in beauty throughout the winter, the assistance 

 of a cool stove or warm intermediate house is requisite. It will be 

 found that plants kept in an ordinary greenhouse after the end of 

 September will refuse to open their flower-buds ; perhaps, indeed, 

 the buds may fall, while the leaves lose their lustre. With the aid 

 of an ordinaiy hotbed in which early cucumbers are grown, and a 

 greenhouse, a very creditable display may be had through the 

 months of August and September. Supposing a warm house at 

 hand, three batches of bulbs should be potted, one each on the first 

 of January and the first of the two following months. We name 

 these dates to indicate that an interval of a month (or so) should 

 occur between the potting of the several batches of bulbs. We 

 will describe the management of the first lot, which will serve for 

 all the rest. A very important point is to have good soil in which 

 to pot them, for without that it is impossible to induce the plants to 

 grow with any degree of vigour. Eor the first potting, loam, leaf- 

 vol. iv. — no. iv. 7 



