MAY. 149 



bushy plant, with foHage like a small-leaved Myrtle ; the flowers 

 resembling those of an Epacris, are white, tinged with red. It 

 flowered in the open border with Messrs. Veitch in July last. 



Pentaraphia cubensis is a warm greenhouse Gesneraceous shrub 

 from Cuba. It has drooping red flowers, which are tolerably handsome. 



^chmea mucroniflora appears to be a good addition to the class of 

 Pine-apple-like plants. It has red bracts and yellow flowers, and the 

 latter are succeeded by pretty blue berries, which last long in beauty. 



Talinum polyandrum is a Portulaca-like plant, with starry brick- 

 red flowers, which are too thin of petals to please the florist. Never- 

 theless it may be a useful plant lor some purposes. 



Billbergia Wetherelli is a handsome enough Bromeliaceous plant, which 

 deserves cultivation. It has a drooping spike of highly coloured bracts, 

 which are really ornamental. 



To the above, which are all we have room for this month, we have a 

 few more new things to add, but those must stand over till our next. 



TREATMENT OF THE CINERARIA. 



This is a very interesting genus of showy greenhouse plants, growing 

 from six inches to two and a half feet high ; yet, common as they are, 

 few manage them well. We too often see tall drawn -up plants, instead 

 of dwarf bushes. Propagation is easily effected by dividing the young 

 offsets from the old plants, and potting into small sized pots ; but 

 cuttings are preferable, which should be put in about the end of June, 

 and placed in a cold frame ; or, select seed from the best varieties, 

 sow early in the spring, in wide-mouthed pots or pans, and place them 

 where they may receive a gentle bottom heat ; and when the seeds have 

 germinated, and the rough leaves are making their appearance, move 

 them carefully into small sized pots, also continue them in a gentle 

 heat, until the weather w^ill permit them to be removed to a frame. 

 Let their position be close to the glass — kept shaded and free from air 

 for a few days ; afl:er which apply a little air, gradually increasing it 

 until they become comparatively hardened. So that, after a short 

 period, air may be applied without engendering any disorder to the 

 plants. Water should be applied moderately — -just enough to keep 

 them moist. Never by any means allow them to become thoroughly 

 dry, as an insufficiency of water is the sole cause of that destructive 

 fungus called mildew, which gradually increases, consequently the 

 plants get into an unhealthy state, and become next to useless. Then 

 how important it is to be on the watch for this insidious foe ; for pre- 

 vention is better than cure, and it is much easier to expel the disease 

 on its first approach than when he has usurped his destructive reign. 



Three things have come under my observation, as regards excluding 

 this encroaching frmgus. First, by admitting a fi*ee circulation of air, 

 which should be regularly attended to every day, and shut off" at 

 night. Secondly, as before stated, attending carefully to the w^atering. 

 Thirdly, by removing the dead foliage from them, which is also a 

 harbour for green-fly. By adopting the above treatment I have sue- 



