22 G THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



to a mixed collection from disappointment, we will advise the culti- 

 vation of Pleromas in what is known as an intermediate house. The 

 soil best adapted for these plants is one composed of equal parts of 

 good peat, silky loam, and leaf-mould, and a half part each small 

 potsherds and sharp sand. In the earlier stages of growth a larger 

 proportion of sand should be used. During winter water must be 

 given with great care, the roots being kept rather dry; in summer, 

 when the plants are growing freely, water must be supplied in plenty. 

 Two points in the cultivation require special attention. The first is 

 to train out the growth with care, so as to form the plant into a 

 handsome specimen ; the other is to secure perfect ripening 

 of the wood in the autumn by full exposure to solar light and 

 free ventilation, for the flowers are borne on the growth of the 

 previous season, and if that growth is not well ripened, it will be 

 flowerless. 



In many well furnished plant-houses where Pleromas would be 

 valued, space cannot be afforded for the growth of great specimens, 

 nor are they necessary. Neat, compact bushes, in eight-inch pots, 

 may be grown and brought into flower beautifully within two years 

 from the time of striking the cuttings, and a number of such plants 

 of various kinds are far to be preferred to two or three gigantic 

 specimens. 



The best time to strike cuttings of any of the species is from 

 May to August. The small side-shoots answer best for the purpose, 

 but good plants may be raised from points of the main branches, 

 but they are not to be preferred. The usual mode of striking them 

 in sandy soil with the help of a mild bottom-heat, and shade from 

 sunshine, is to be recommended, but in the height of summer they 

 may be rooted by one accustomed to strike cuttings, without the aid 

 of bottom-hear. The process, however, is longer about, and less 

 safe than when heat is employed. As soon as the cuttings are 

 rooted they must be potted off; the pots known as 60's (three inches 

 wide) being the proper size for them. After potting, place them in 

 a temperature of 60°, and keep rather close until they have made 

 .some progress, when they must have more and more air to prepare 

 them for the winter. In the February following shift them into 

 48's (five-inch), and give them a little extra warmth to start them, 

 after which endeavour to treat them as intermediate rather than 

 stove plants, shifting them on as they require it, and never exposing 

 them to such low degrees of temperature as ordinary greenhouse 

 plants will bear with impunity. 



P. elegans is a splendid species, examples of which may have 

 been seen at every grand flower-show for twenty years past. It is 

 very accommodating, but worth the best attention that can be given 

 it. The flowers are of a rich cobalt blue shading to purplish blue. 



P. tnacrantha (Lasiandra macrantha) lately introduced by Mr. 

 Ball, is certainly the grandest of the family ; the flowers, when well 

 grown, averaging about a foot in circumference, and being very freely 

 produced. They are of a fine rich purplish blue colour, shading into 

 intense cobalt. This is more of a stove plant than any of its race, 

 but quite easy to manage, and flowering freely when only five or six 



