236 THE FLORIST. 



blue flowers, render them as conspicuous as they are graceful. In 

 sheltered situations, what forms a more beautiful object than a vase filled 

 with the common Egyptian Arum — Calla sethiopica? but these will not 

 bear an exposed situation, and the plants must be strong before turning 

 them out. Next we have tried Tritonia aurea, and certainly this is a 

 beautiful plant for the purpose ; it requires putting in thick, but in the 

 autumn its bright orange-coloured flowers and slender leaves make 

 it a very desirable plant for our purpose. Phormium tenax, New 

 Zealand Flax, is another suitable plant tor its foliage, as are some of the 

 Yuccas. As regards these latter, the best plan is to select those 

 showing bloom, when they are really fine objects. There are many 

 other sword-leaved plants, including Gladioluses and Irises, well adapted 

 for our purpose ; nor should we forget the Acanthus, for its classic 

 association, which, to those who may wish to make the trial, will 

 suggest themselves as eligible ; and I shall be glad to hear that these 

 hints, loosely thrown together, have induced some of your readers to 

 give them a trial. I may perhaps trouble you again on this subject, 

 but shall now conclude by naming a few creeping plants adapted for 

 planting round the principal ; these will creep over the rim, and may 

 then be left either to grow in their own way or be trained so as to form 

 festoons round the base. Lophospermums, two or three kinds, 

 Maurandyas, blue, red, and white, Tropseolum pentaphyllum and 

 speciosum, Calystegia pubescens, Lysimachianummularia, white (Loose- 

 strife), Campanula fragilis ; Lobelias Erinus and unidentata, and some 

 others, although they do not grow so tall as the former, are useful for 

 small vases. 



F. 



ON GLOXIXIAS. 



The improvement in these flowers by hybridisation within the last few 

 years has made a wonderful change in them. Comparing those of the 

 present day with what were cultivated only two or three years back, 

 there is such a decided superiority both in form of flowers and 

 delicacy of colouring among those of the present year, that scarcely any 

 of those varieties of former years can now be considered worth cultivating 

 at all. Among those recently introduced there is such a combination of 

 shape, size, substance, and colour, harmonising with each other in the 

 most pleasing manner, or in such perfection, that has never before been 

 attained amongst Gloxinias. Considering the facility with which they 

 are propagated, and with which they can be grown if kept in a humid 

 stove atmosphere, it is a matter of surprise and regret that they are not 

 more extensively diffused among collections, and more efficiently grown 

 than they are. If well cultivated they are really beautiful things, either 

 for large or small collections, where heat and moisture are at command ; 

 they are of a dwarf habit, abundant bloomers, making a charming 

 display through the spring and summer months. As exhibition plants, 

 what could be more charming than a well-grown collection — say a 



