JANUARY. 17 



inflorescence resembling some of the larger flowered varieties of 

 Pentstemon Hartwegi, better known, perhaps, under the erroneous 

 name of gentianoides. We may further mention Gomphrena coccinea, 

 as another very useful plant for decorative purposes ; it is perennial 

 ^vith orange-coloured flowers, and should be treated similarly to its near 

 ally, the well-known globe Amaranth. 



Of older, but comparatively novel, plants, the Impatiens Jerdonise, 

 already noticed and figured in our pages, proves itself to be one of the 

 gayest of recent introduction. 



CLERODENDRON SPLENDENS. 



When well managed this is one of the most showy and useful of stove 

 twiners, for when seen in the form of good sized specimens, covered with 

 its dark glossy green foliage, and its large bunches of glowing scarlet 

 flowers, it forms a most striking object. It is of comparatively easy 

 cultivation, and is easily increased either by cuttings or grafting it on 

 the more robust growing kinds. Short jointed bits of the young wood, 

 such as are rather firm at the heel, should be used for cuttings, planted 

 in a well drained pot in sandy soil, covered with a bell glass, and 

 plunged in a brisk bottom heat. Do not over water them, and as soon 

 as they are fairly rooted pot them singly in small pots, using about equal 

 parts fibry peat, turfy loam, and leaf mould, adding plenty of sharp 

 clean sand. After potting place them in a shady part of a warm pit or 

 stove, where a moist atmosphere is maintained, and, if possible, afford 

 them a brisk bottom heat. When they become well estabhshed they 

 should be more freely exposed to fight, and a little air should be 

 admitted on fine days. As they advance in growth attend to shifting 

 as may be required, using the same compost as recommended above, 

 with the addition of a small quantity of well decomposed cow-dung. 

 The compost should be rubbed through a half inch mesh sieve, and well 

 intermixed, but I need not say that it should not be sifted, as was once 

 the practice, for this takes out the fibry and best portion of the soil. The 

 plants should be afforded a slight shade for a few hours on the forenoons 

 of bright days, but do not use this too freely. If well attended to and 

 shifted on as they require more pot room, they will make nice little 

 specimens for flowering by the end of September, and will continue in 

 beauty for a long time, and it is a first-rate subject for winter decora- 

 tion. Some persons prefer having this variety grafi:ed on some of the 

 stronger growing kinds, and I have had it succeed well grafted on C. 

 odoratum, fallax, and Kaempferi. For grafts select a short jointed 

 well ripened piece of wood, cutting it above each joint, when it will 

 form as many grafts as there are pieces with a pair of leaves or eyes. 

 But I have invariably found plants grafted on the roots of any of the 

 strong growing kinds to make the finest specimens. For root grafting a 

 short rather firm bit of a young shoot with a leaf should be used, and 

 in either case the grafts should be covered with a bell glass until they 



NEW SERIES, VOL. V. NO. XLIX. C 



