116 THE FLORIST. 



properly ripened, they will do with a very moderate temperature, 

 and a very reduced or rather dry atmosphere. The flowers are pro- 

 duced on the apices of the young shoots ; therefore, previous to 

 starting them, cut them well back ; and if they are old plants, shake 

 them out a little or reduce their balls, and pot them in a fresh com- 

 post of leaf-mould, turfy peat, and sandy loam, in about equal pro- 

 portions, with good drainage, and not in over-large pots ; keep them 

 in a close atmosphere with a brisk heat, syringing over head every 

 day while growing; stop the young shoots as they progress, and 

 train them into shape, so as to form a good specimen. The follow- 

 ing species of this genus are in cultivation at Kew. 



F. CALYCiNA. This is one of the best, forming a compact bush two feet high, 

 and flowering freely on very small plants; the leaves are oblong, rather ellipti- 

 cal, three to four inches longj glabrous, of a good substance, and green on both 

 sides. The flowers are from two to eight in a cyme, of a violet blue, becoming 

 light with age ; each flower is nearly two inches across, and remains in perfection 

 lor a considerable time. This plant is known as F. confertiflora. 



F. EXiMiA is the most beautiful species in cultivation ; it is of a rather 

 robust habit, two to three feet high ; the leaves are oblong-lanceolate, four to 

 seven inches long, undulated, darkish green above and whitish beneath, and 

 covered throughout with small hairs, which render them soft to the touch. The 

 flowers are large, very showy, two to five in a cyme ; each flower two and a half 

 inches across, deep lilac, ultimately becoming nearly white. 



F. HoPEANA. This grows about two to three feet high, has smooth leaves 

 two to three inches long, undulated, green on both sides; flowers usually solitary, 

 very fragrant, near an inch and a half across, of a deep violet, fading to white. 



F. HYDRANGE^FORMis is a Tobust grower, attaining the height of three to four 

 feet, branching mostly towards the apex ; the leaves are smooth, oblong-obovate, 

 six to nine inches long, tapering to a short thick foot-stalk ; the flowers are in a 

 dense compact raceme or cyme, forming a rather large compact head, somewhat 

 resembling Hydrangea hortensis; they are of a fine rich blue purple, becoming 

 almost white in age. 



F. HYDRANGE^FORMis ALBA. This Variety has white flowers, otherwise not 

 different from the original. 



F. HYDRANGE^FORMis ELEGANS. In this Variety the flowers are larger and 

 finer than the original, and it is likewise of a better habit. 



F. LATiFOLiA. This specics has smooth ovate leaves three to four inches 

 long, rather thin, and of a light-green on both sides ; the flowers are two to three 

 together, violet, but soon becoming paler with age. 



F. viLLOSA. This very much resembles F. latifolia ; is of a larger and more 

 robust habit, with smaller flowers ; the leaves are three to five inches long, 

 oblong-ovate, and hairy on the margin. 



F. ACUMINATA. This is a very neat- looking plant, and will form a compact 

 bush one to two feet high ; the leaves are oblong-acuminate, minutely hairy, 

 two inches long, green on both sides, and the young branches are of dark colour ; 

 the flowers are from two to six in a corymb^ of a deep purple, soon fading 

 to pale. 



F. Angusta. This species much resembles F. acuminata, but is of a more 

 robust habit ; the leaj^es are two to five inches long, and minutely covered with 

 very small hairs, which give them a roughness, especially beneath. The plant 

 grows two feet high, has violet flowers, which soon become light. 



Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. J. Houlston. 



