JULY. 169 



THE CALCEOLARIA. 



What vast numbers of very beautiful flowers of this interesting tribe; 

 of plants are raised from seeds annually ! But what becomes of them 

 afterwards ? There is not one in twenty we either see or hear of the 

 succeeding season ! Before I attempt to supply an answer to this 

 question, let me put another which is closely connected therewith : 

 Why is it that seedhngs are so much more easy of culture thaa 

 plants propagated by cuttings ? Almost any person can grow a crop 

 of seedlings ; but few are successful in the cultivation of propagated 

 plants. I am of opinion that the species of Calceohiria now in 

 general cultivation as a greenhouse plant is more alHed to an annual 

 than a perennial ; for after the seedling plant has done blooming — 

 if it has bloomed freely, which it generally does, it becomes nearly 

 exhausted and difficult to propagate, and the bloom the ensuing 

 season invariably degenerates. These observations I submit as an 

 answer to the above questions. 



In selecting seedlings for future propagation, I do not think suf- 

 ficient attention is paid to the habit of the plant ; for no matter 

 how perfect the flower may be in shape, or how beautiful in colour 

 and markings, if the plant is not of strong habit, and the flower of 

 good substance, it ought to be thrown out immediately, or it will 

 be sure to yield you disappointment the ensuing season ; for what 

 would it profit you, provided the flower did retain its character, if 

 the habit of the plant was weak and bad, as you could not get a 

 specimen worth looking at ? I would not even retain such a plant 

 for the purpose of impregnating other flowers with for the sake of 

 its striking colours ; for this season I have noticed among my seed- 

 lings, that a great majority of them possess eminently more of the 

 habit and properties of the plant with which the parent was im- 

 pregnated, than they do of the plant from which the seed was 

 gathered. This, therefore, I think, shews the necessity of selecting 

 and procuring for the purpose of impregnating and saving seed from, 

 such plants only as possess free habit and the best properties to which 

 we have attained ; and retaining no seedlings but those of like merit. 

 Whether the Calceolaria should be shrubby, half-shrubby, or herba- 

 ceous, is a point on which " doctors differ;" but we are, I doubt not, 

 all agreed that the plant should be of free and robust growth, the 

 foliage green and luxuriant, and the stem strong, branching, and 

 graceful. 



In some future Number, I propose, with your permission, giving 

 a list of a few good Calceolarias, with remarks on the habit and cha- 

 racters of the respective varieties enumerated. 



Whitby, lOth June, 1850. M. Woodhouse. 



