THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 273 



variety of the well-known Abutilon striatum, the garden name of 

 the plant being Abutilon Thompsoni. It forms a neat hush, with 

 ample leafage, most richly painted with deep yellow and lively green. 

 It was introduced by Messrs. Veitch and Son, and is now r cheap. 



I have another new plant to introduce to notice, which 1 am 

 certain will be a popular subject for years to come. It is a dwarf- 

 growing Ageratum, named Imperial Dwarf. It grows about six 

 inches in height, and has flowers the same colour as the old Mexi- 

 canum ; it blooms very profusely, and will make a grand second row 

 plant. It is still in the hands of Mr. W. Cliater, of Saffron 

 Waldeu, but it is worth waiting for. 



The Heliotropium is not much appreciated, simply because the 

 old common strong-growing variety with pale-coloured flowers is 

 grown. Were such grand varieties as Beauty of the Boudoir, Miss 

 Nightingale, and Lady Amhurst, grown in a few good places, we 

 should soon witness their return to public favour. 



THE CULTURE OF STEPHANOTIS FLORIBUNDA. 



BY ROBERT OTTBRIDUE, 

 Church "Walk Nursery, Stoke Newington. 



^KIS is a lady's flower, par excellence, for nothing can 

 equal it for bouquets and dressing up epergnes, and for 

 all other uses to which cut flowers can be applied. It 

 however is not grown so extensively as it should be, 

 simply because the great body of amateurs imagine 

 that to grow and flower it well a very strong heat is required. It 

 will not do any good in an ordinary greenhouse temperature, 

 because there would not be sufficient heat to enable the growth to 

 be made early enough in the season to get well ripened before the 

 autumn ; but it can be grown in a much lower temperature than is 

 usually employed. 



In the first place secure a healthy plant in a 48-size pot early 

 in March, and shift at once, if the pot is full of roots, into two sizes 

 larger, and place in a temperature of 60° or 6-5". Train the young 

 growth over the roof of the house. To get an abundance of flowers 

 the wood must be exposed to the light, and training the growth to 

 the roof affords the readiest means of effecting the desired object. 

 If specimens are not required for exhibition, train the growth to 

 the roof permanently ; otherwise, regulate the growth carefully to 

 allow of its being taken down, and placed upon a trellis fixed in the 

 pot, just before coming into flower. Many Stephanotis growers 

 are afraid of the little trouble incurred in transferring the growth 

 from one trellis to the other, and grow them upon the pot trellis 

 entirely. A very little thought will show that, when the growth is 

 huddled together upon so contracted a space, it is impossible to 

 receive sufficient light and air to thoroughly mature the young wood. 

 When the specimens are not required to be moved about, it is be.-t 

 to train them on the roof altogether, as better growth is made, and 



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