MAY. 155 



10 feet high, are flowering copiously. The handsome foliaged tree, 

 Rhopala corcovadensis, is coming into flower ; it has a spike a foot long of 

 rathar insignificant flowers ; it is well worth growing for the beauty of 

 its foliage. Gesneras, and Gloxinias are among the chief features at 

 present in flower, the latter are particularly fine. Many new kinds 

 have been received from the continent, &c., which far eclipse most of 

 the older sorts, combining large flowers 2 — 2| inches across, with 

 richness and delicacy of colouring. The following are a few of the 

 best: Eleanor, Eugenie, elegantissima, Maria Van Houtte, Sir C. 

 Napier, Victoria regia, Magnet, Presleyi, and rubra violacea. 



J. HOULSTON. 



SOMETHING ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF CREEPING 



PLANTS. 



The advice which I gave to a lady, a few days since, about some 

 creeping plants which she had purchased for the purpose of covering a 

 wall, may, perhaps, be of use to some reader of the Florist. Here is 

 the substance of it. 



I should, however, premise that the fair horticulturist had pre- 

 viously complained of many failures — the plants had either died out- 

 right, or had merely vegetated for a season or two, and then departed. 

 Now this is a very general complaint — but let us suggest a remedy. 



Suppose the time, March. A warm day invites you to a leisurely 

 stroll in your garden. You remark that there are several vacancies 

 for creeping plants on the wall, that you are desirous of having well 

 covered. You resolve to replant these vacancies, and the next time 

 you drive over to the neighbouring town, you will call at the nursery 

 and purchase plants for the purpose. 



I will suppose you have done_ this. That the plants are at this 

 moment before you, in your own garden, and that they are hardy 

 kinds. Your first impulse will be to request your gardener to plant 

 them in the places they are to occupy. Do no such thing. JMost 

 probably they have been plunged in the open ground, or taken from 

 amongst dozens of others, where they have passed an uncomfortable 

 winter, under a wall or hedge. At all events they will be somewhat 

 rude in exterior, and doubtlessly pot-bound. First prune away all 

 dead and decaying branches. Then let each be turned out of its 

 pot and carefully examined about the roots. If they are in an un- 

 satisfactory state remove the greater part of the old soil, cut away 

 the dead roots, and repot the plant in as small a pot as will comfort- 

 ably accommodate it, using, of course, some new soil, of a kind suitable 

 for the particular plant. With those that are pot-bound use also 

 the knife pretty freely about the roots, and repot in new soil and 

 pots as can conveniently be employed. 



All your plants having been revised and neatly tied up, remove 

 them to a frame, or a shady spot in your greenhouse, where they 

 can be kept close for a few days. If the soil is damp give no water 



