12 THE FLORIST. 



NEPENTHES RAFFLESIANA. 



This very interesting species is now in full bloom at the Royal 

 Botanic Garden, Kew, being the second time since its introduction 

 from Singapore ; the plant is about sixteen feet high, and has a 

 cylindrical tlower-spike thirteen inches long. It is placed at one 

 end of the Orchidaceous house along with a group of other kinds, 

 and suspended from the roof, presenting a truly beautiful collection 

 of vegetable pitchers, such as could scarcely be conceived, unless 

 seen in a living state. 



KeWy November lOth. J. H. 



THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



So fine and so long an autumn has done much to increase the taste 

 for this flower. In the cottage and the nobleman's garden, out of 

 doors or within, the Chrysanthemum has been unusually gay this 

 season. 



We will, as briefly as possible, give our readers the benefit of 

 the information we acquired by attending the Stoke Newington and 

 Norwich shows, as well as by visiting the principal collections about 

 London. There were some fine specimens at Stoke Newington, 

 both growing and in a cut state ; yet, generally, the plants at Nor- 

 wich were superior, more dwarf and healthy, and altogether better 

 grown, with their dark green foliage and abundant bloom. We 

 believe that the cuttings of these plants were put in about the first 

 week in June ; fine healthy shoots were selected, placed in gentle 

 heat, and not allowed to flag, or in any part of their after-growth 

 to stand still. Six cuttings, each in small pots, when struck were 

 divided into three, and potted off into a 4-inch size, thus giving two 

 plants to a pot. These plants were then grown in the most open 

 part of the garden, and placed at a good distance from each other 

 in all their stages of growth, and never allowed to suffer for want 

 of water, in fact never allowed to get dry. Liquid manure v/as 

 used when the pots had become full of roots. The plants required 

 stopping once only, about three weeks after they had been potted 

 off. For this part of their culture a certain guide is, when the roots 

 have tolerably filled the pots, and the plants have swollen well, then 

 take a good piece off, and from four to six shoots will break ; 

 whereas if topped in a young state, by merely pinching out the top, 

 two eyes will be more likely to break than more. Two plants thus 

 grown together will form a fine bush, if repotted once or twice when 

 they require it. It will be seen that the principal things to bear 

 in mind are, not to put the cuttings in too soon, and to select such 

 as are stout and fine, and to keep them well at work throughout 

 their after-growth. We need scarcely add that the Chrysanthemum 



uriates in strong, rich soil. 



