AUGUST 237 



dozen — of the best kinds for a June or July show ? They would not, I 

 imagine, be one of the least attractive features. Their propagation is 

 effected by the leaves, which, taken off the plant and plunged into a 

 brisk bottom heat, will root in a week ; hence they are easily propagated 

 to any extent required. They are very impatient of water at all times, 

 although they luxuriate in a humid atmosphere ; if too much is given 

 at the roots they soon decay, therefore it should be administered with 

 caution, always sparingly, and never until they are dry ; syringing over 

 head must be withheld as soon as they commence flowering, and if they 

 can be removed to a shady intermediate house their blooming period 

 may be extended for a long time. A hght compost composed of peat, 

 silver sand, leaf mould, and a little loam, is the most suitable for them, 

 with good drainage, and not in over large pots. When they die down 

 and are at rest they may be stowed away under the stage of the green- 

 house, or in any similar place where they can be kept cool and dry. 



As there is a considerable number of them now in cultivation bearing 

 different names, many of them being useless, and where they are 

 cultivated it is equally as easy to cultivate a good variety as a bad one, 

 I have (from a very extensive collection now in flower) made a selection 

 of the best and most attractive, which will probably be a desideratum to 

 those who cultivate the Gloxinia ; they combine size with beauty of form 

 and distinctness of colour, and are the most superior sorts for producing 

 a brilliant effect : — 



Elegantissima, white, with a violet blue throat, and dotted inside on a white 

 ground. 



Eugenie, light rose colour, with a deep rose limb, and spotted in the throat 

 with small spots. 



Eleanor, light, with a delicate rosy carmine coloured throat. 



Sir C. IS'apier, bright rosy red throughout, deeper in the throat. 



Imperialis, light flower, with a Prussian blue and deep rich purple throat. 



Candidissima, flower not very large, but of a clear white, and is excellent 

 as a variety. 



Prince of Wales, light, with a violet or indigo blue throat. 



Purity, light, with a rosy carmine throat. 



Magnet, red, with a deep violet red throat. 



Wilsoni ; this is a superb variety, light, with a rosy carmine throat, and 

 white inside ; flower three inches across. 



Pressleyi, blue flower, with a very deep violet blue throat. 



Victoria regia, light, with a deep purple blue inside, slightly shaded 

 throughout, 



Argyroneura, violet coloured flower ,'with a deeper violet inside, and a clear 

 white strip in the throat ; the leaves of this are white nerved. 



Erecta magnifica; this is similar to Fyfiana, by having the flowers stand- 

 ing erect ; they are of a rosy carmine inside, with a violet purple 

 and dotted below. 



Fyfiana ; a very singular form, flowers light [outside, with a violet and 

 indigo blue within. 



Marie Van Iloutte, light, with a deep carmine throat, shaded witli purple. 



Prince le Ling, fine rich red, with a rosy carmine sliaded darker within. 



Grand Sultan, flower pink, with a carmine shading to purple, and a white 

 throat. 



