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ASPIDISTRA LURIDA VARIEGATA. 



HOSE who trust catalogues for information on gardening will find that 

 they are forbidden to grow this beautiful plant unless they are possessed 

 of a good stove, and the mistaken notions that have prevailed as to its 

 hardiness have hitherto prevented its culture by amateurs, to whom it 

 might be invaluable. In the Cottage Gardener's Dictionary^ Aspidistra 

 lurida is classed as a stove plant with purple flowers, blooming in July, and a general 

 remark is added, in reference to the genus, that it consists of plants " more curious 

 than ornamental." It so happens that this species, and its variegated variety, are 

 quite hardy, and both are eminently ornamental, while the variegated variety is one 

 of the grandest plants of the kind we possess. Aspidistra lurida is a member of the 

 great family of Lilyworts. The plant is stemless, and forms a creeping fleshy 

 rhizome very fruitful in buds, which may be removed with a portion of the rhizome 

 to form independent plants. It throws up gigantic leaves, and produces in April and 

 May a number of unattractive blossoms on the surface of the soil, and sometimes 

 beneath the surface. It is often said to blossom underground, but this only happens 

 when it is planted too deep. The variegated variety is a magnificent subject for 

 decoration or exhibition, and forms a noble ornament to a sheltered rockery. It will 

 endure our winters with impunity if planted in a position where water cannot lodge 

 about its roots. It is admirably adapted for pot culture, and specimens may be 

 shifted on to ten or twelve-inch pots, and will repay the cultivator by the superb 

 character of the foliage, which is usually variegated with broad creamy stripes, the 

 leaves being frequently equally divided with dark green and creamy-white. To 

 make a fine specimen, it should be potted in a large pot in April, in a strong turfy 

 loam, and assisted to make a good start with moist bottom-heat. When divided for 

 increase, bottom-heat is useful, and the best time to part it is from the beginning of 

 April to the middle of June. When manure is used, the leaves have less variegation ; 

 and to keep it true, it is best to trust to a sound turfy loam rather than use a stimu- 

 lating compost. 



GYMNOGRAJVBIAS. 



N looking over the many beautiful sections of ferns which we now possess, 

 I often think that Gymnogrammas are not so extensively grown as they 

 deserve to be, neither do we find them on all occasions so luxuriant as 

 they might be, or possessing dimensions which would cause them to 

 command attention at horticultural exhibitions. Among them there are 

 many beautiful varieties — for instance, Peruviana, argyrophylla, and others of equal 

 merit, which though perhaps not extensively cultivated, are yet I think well known. 

 Their treatment is simple enough, yet they require a little more care than others. 

 The chief difficulty which I find some cultivators meet with is wintering them. Now 

 as I have been very fortunate with them, I will throw out a few hints which, if care- 

 fully attended to, no one need despair of success. It will not be necessary to follow 

 the plant through every stage of growth from its infancy ; suflice it to say that by 

 commencing with a young specimen in the spring, and keeping it moving throughout 

 the season, no one need be afraid to have it in an eight or ten-inch pot by the 

 autumn, or even larger, depending on the variety, for some of them are rather 

 stronger in growth than others, consequently they require more pot-room. When a 

 large plant is required, it may be encouraged over the second year in the same 

 manner and under similar treatment as during the first, and until it has got into a 

 15 or 16-inch pot, which sizes I have often had them in. Most of the Gymno- 

 grammas being from tropical climates, require a rather high temperature ; that in 

 which I have found them to succeed best during the spring and autumn is 60" or 62' 

 by night, allowing the house to rise 10^ or 15° by day with sun ; the heat during the 

 growing season may run about 70^ by night, and from 80'' to 85" by day. The 

 plants at this season must be carefully shaded from the direct rays of the sun. For 



