SEPTEMBER. 285 



exceedingly gay with its usual summer occupants, among which may 

 be noticed some fine flowering specimens of Hsemanthus insignis, a 

 species introduced from Natal, and which in general appearance 

 resembles H. multiflorus, but is of a more robust habit, having a stout 

 erect stem, a foot to a foot and a half high, bearing on its apex a close 

 compact head, five to six inches in diameter, of numerous hght red 

 flowers, with deep yellow anthers. This is an acquisition to this genus, 

 of which it is perhaps the very best. 



Another recent addition to our " Everlasting flowers," is Acrolinium 

 roseum, an annual herb from the interior of South- West AustraUa ; it 

 has been raised at Kew from seed imported by Mr. Drummond, 

 and has been flowering in a cold frame for these two months past ; it 

 grows from a foot to near two feet high, has linear sessile almost 

 decurrent leaves ; each branch bearing a capitula or head of flowers, 

 varying from half an inch to two inches broad, of a rose colour, with a 

 yellow centre. 



Among bedding out plants one of the most conspicuous is the Petunia 

 " Gem," a very rich coloured variety in the way of *'Shrubland Rose," 

 but is decidedly a more preferable kind, the flowers being larger and 

 of a deeper colour, and are produced in as gi*eat abundance as they are 

 on the " Shrubland Rose." 



J. HOULSTON. 



CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH. 



Auriculas. — These will only have to be kept clear of insects and 

 dead foliage, and moderately moist, to keep the young roots well at 

 work. If premature trusses of flowers should appear, pinch the buds 

 off when well above the fohage. 



Camellias and Azaleas. — Let the latter be frequently looked over for 

 detecting thrips, which m^y now make their appearance, and should 

 be effectually eradicated before the plants are housed for the winter ; 

 any plants which were not potted in the spring, and require shifting, 

 may now be repotted, as the plants have made their growth ; well soak 

 the ball before potting, and be cautious, in watering them afterwards, 

 that the water does not escape through the new soil and leave the mass 

 of roots dry. 



Carnations and Picotees. — The soil for wintering these plants should 

 be kept sweet and tolerably dry. Commence potting into small pots 

 towards the end of the month, to enable the plants to become well 

 established to stand the vnnter. Let them be well hardened as soon 

 as they have drawn root. They are generally grown to tender. It 

 would be better to err with a little too much exposure than by 

 sheltering too much on every occasion that the weather may prove 

 unfavourable. Avoid wet and give plenty of air ; these are two of the 

 most important points in the winter culture of the Carnation and 

 Picotee. 



Cinerarias. — For seedlings and propagated plants of the old kinds. 



