272 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



vague anticipations. It is yet too early to expect much variety in 

 the borders of the flower-garden, and the greenhouse is the only 

 source which will yield the desired pleasure ; and here, too frequently, 

 we meet only the chilling aspect of green leaves or bare stems. This, 

 of course, depends on the selection of plants when furnishing the 

 house, and may, therefore, be easily obviated. I subjoin a brief 

 notice of some that bloom at this desirable season, with some remarks 

 on their management. There are, doubtless, many others equally 

 suitable, but even those enumerated will be sufficient to remove the 

 blank so much to be complained of. 



The genus ^:)ac7'/5, from containing so many interesting varieties, 

 must be considered indispensable. Some or other of them may bo 

 had in bloom from December until June. They delight in fibrous 

 peat, broken rough, and fine white sand. The young plants should be 

 frequently stopped, by pinching off the points of the shoots while 

 growing, to induce them to throw out laterals ; these again should 

 be stopped until the plants have attained a size sufficient to warrant 

 their blooming. 



The pretty Cosmelia ruira occurs next in order. Its habit and 

 manner of flowering closely resemble that of the EjKict^is, though the 

 flowers themselves are larger and more deeply coloured. It succeeds 

 under the same treatment. 



Faliana imhricata, although recently found to be sufficiently 

 hardy to bear exposure to our winter, still merits a place in the 

 greenhouse, on account of its precocity and its lovely heath-like pure 

 white blossoms. 



Pultenia stricta, an old and somewhat neglected, yet certainly 

 beautiful, species ; when properly managed, is highly desirable ; its 

 spikes of bright yellow and red, pea-shaped flowers, copiously pro- 

 duced, render it a most pleasing object. This plant should be pruned 

 closely back as soon as the flowering is over, which will keep it dwarf 

 and handsome. 



Chorozema. I need not enlarge on the beauties of this genus ; 

 it is universally grown, and therefore needs no commendation. A 

 large pot and frequently stopping will speedily produce fine plants. 



Eutaxia myrtifolia is, like the Eultencea^ a plant whose beauty 

 depends entirely on the management it receives. During the 

 summer and autumn every new shoot should be stopped as soon as 

 it has attained two, or at most three, joints : thus it may be formed 

 into an extremely neat compact dwarf shrub. It is a most profuse 

 bloomer. 



Flmelea. This genus, with its capitate heads of lovely pink, 

 white, and red flowers, may be classed among the best of green- 

 house plants. They are generally of easy management, though I 

 have found some difficulty with P. siwctalilis, when growing on its 

 own roots : it appears to do better and live longer when grafted upon 

 another species. 



Dios7na capitata is closely allied to the Fimelea ; the colour of the 

 flowers is a lively lilac. 



All the above plants succeed under the same treatment : they 

 delight in sandy peat containing plenty of fibre, and require plenty 



