246 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



yet seen was when Lobelia speci'osa was planted, plant for plant, among 

 the tricolors, the blue forming a very effective and pleasing ground 

 colour, on which the gold and crimson leaves of the tricolors shone 

 out brilliantly in the summer sun. Many other experiments will be 

 made during the season for this purpose : at present our experience 

 is but limited. 



Having enjoyed the beauty of these plants during the summer 

 season, and September drawing near, the utilitarian thought arises of 

 securing the increase. IF the season is damp, the cuttings should 

 be taken off not later than the second week of the month ; it the 

 situation is warm and airy, the operation may be deferred for a week 

 or two longer, but there is danger from frost and wet in so doing ; in 

 the earlier part of the month the cuttings are more fitted to root, and 

 get established before winter : these should be inserted in thumb- 

 pots singly, using very sandy loam only. Place the pots on gentle 

 bottom-heat, using v.ater very sparingly, and in three weeks they 

 will be sufficiently rooted. 



By the middle of October, at latest, the old plants should be 

 carefully lilted, the soil shaken off the roots, w^hich should be slightly 

 trimmed ; place them in as small pots as will conveniently contain 

 them ; put them on gentle bottom-heat for a fortnight, when they 

 may be moved to the greenhouse, on airy shelves, using water 

 sparingly duiing the winter months. 



GtRE E^^HO u sE OR CoNSEEYA TOET CuLTURE. — It is here, in a greater 

 degree than in the open garden, the writer anticipates an increased 

 araouut of pleasure will be derived. Under glass the plants are un- 

 affected by rain and storms ; here the amateur may enjoy an unin- 

 terrupted survey of the wondrous changes wrought (instrumentally) 

 by the hand of man. To the uninitiated it may seem enough to possess 

 one or two varieties, but to the trained eye of the connoisseur the 

 distinguishing characteristics of even one hundred varieties are 

 plainly visible. 



Some of the varieties produce leaves of a light hue, which intensify 

 in colour as they advance in age ; others, again, are dark in their drst 

 state, and get lighter. Again, one or tw^o varieties in our possession 

 produce leaves both dark in zone and bright yellow on the edge of 

 the leaf; these change gradually — the zone becomes scarlet, the 

 edge of the leaf nearly white. 



The tricolors delight in light, free air, and during the winter 

 months and all cold weather a dry atmosphere ; in hot summer wea- 

 ther a thin shade is requi?ite from ten a.m. to three p.m. To describe 

 a structure suitable for these conditions, let us propose a span-roofed 

 house, as admitting the greatest degree of light : this should be at 

 the angle of 45^, with a roof ventilator the whole length of the 

 house — the width should be, say twelve feet ; side-lights may be 

 dispensed with, but ventilators, extending the whole length on each 

 side, should exist. These may be near the ground, so as to admit the 

 air under or opposite the pipes — thus warming it as it enters the 

 house ; the inside needs but a row of slate slabs, three feet six inches 

 to four feet wide, on each side ; the pipes for heating should be two 

 rows, of four inches, on each side. It is, by far, better to have too 

 much heating power than too little in this uncertain climate. 



