AUGUST. J87 



And believing that among the readers of the Florist there are many- 

 kindred spirits, I propose to drag from their comparative obscurity- 

 some of the old beauties of the greenhouse and garden. 



For nearly a century and a half has the beautiful plant whose 

 modern name gives the title to this paper occupied our greenhouses. 

 I know not if it ever attracted the attention it deserves ; certain it is 

 that in the present day we do not meet with it in the degree of 

 excellence it is capable of attaining. Easy of propagation and of 

 growth, and magnificent in appearance when in bloom, it becomes a 

 matter of surprise that it should be neglected. It can be grown and 

 flowered in any-sized pot, from a 60 to a No. 1 ; it is equally adapted 

 for the greenhouse of the amateur, or the more assuming conser- 

 vatories of large establishments ; and among the numerous exqui- 

 site plants which now crowd our collections, it would be difficult to 

 rival a well-grown specimen of the old Kalosanthes coccinea. 



As a preliminary in its successful cultivation, we must recollect 

 that its flowers are produced only on shoots of two seasons' o-rowth ; 

 consequently it is requisite to provide two sets of plants to keep up 

 a yearly display. I will suppose the cultivator to possess some old 

 straggling plants now out of bloom, pnd that he wishes to grow and 

 flower some handsome specimens. He must cut back the blooming 

 shoots pretty freely, and all straggling growths, in order to form the 

 foundation of a symmetrical plant. All the tops of shoots which 

 have not bloomed may be employed as cuttings. But we will first 

 dispose of the old plants, and then take up the cuttings, and see how 

 we can develope a handsome specimen. Place the old pruned plants 

 in some cool place, withholding water till the old wood has " broken" 

 freely. There will be a vast quantity of shoots beyond what will be 

 required ; thin them judiciously; and when the plant is fairly grow- 

 ing, turn it out of its old pot, reduce the ball, repot it in a smaller 

 pot, place it in a cool frame till the young roots begin to appear 

 through the new earth, gradually harden the plant by the application 

 of plenty of air and solar influence, and give it a larger pot ; shift it 

 as often as the pot it occupies becomes filled with roots, if you re- 

 quire a large specimen ; and get it well established in its blooming 

 pot by the time you "house" your greenhouse plants in autumn. 

 And bear in mind that, although a succulent, and that it may be 

 the winter season, your plant will require a considerable amount of 

 water. I shall have more to say on this point presently. In the 

 erisuing spring, or early summer, according to circumstances, you 

 will be amply repaid for all your labours. Now for our cuttings. 



Select some of the more robust pieces, of which we spoke just 

 now, prepare them as cuttings, and place each in a small sixty pot, 

 in a sandy compost. Here let me remind you, that the plants have 

 extremely delicate hair-like roots. Place the cuttings in your pro- 

 pagating frame ; a cold pit will do. As soon as they are rooted, cut 

 each down to within an inch or so of the soil, and replace them in 

 their nursery till they have " broken," which they will do at every 

 eye. Remove them to a more airy place, and when established 

 repot them ; which continue to do, even in the first winters of their 



