1869.] CULTURE OF GREENHOUSE STATICES. 33 



As a cooking or culinary apple it is, I believe, generally esteemed, whilst 

 when fully ripe, and when the clear bright streaks of crimson come out upon its 

 broad sunny side, it makes a very noble dessert apple. The flavour is at its best 

 brisk and aromatic, with a good supply of sugary juice. Its proper season is at the 

 festive Christmas and New-Year time, when such an apple is really valuable. The 

 fruit has an irregular, furrowed outline, and is variable in form. One peculiarity 

 is, that those of them which are most decidedly Pearmain-shaped are always the 

 brightest, and most densely striped. It will be seen from these brief particulars, 

 that this is essentially an amateurs' variety, to be grown where there is but 

 limited space for tree planting. The illustration sufficiently explains the form 

 and general size of the fruit of this variety. 



Digsivell. William Earlet. 



CULTURE OF GREENHOUSE STATICES. 



>MONGST these we have some of the most serviceable decorative Plants in 

 cultivation. Take, for instance, as types, such kinds as S. Holfordii 

 S. profusa, &c, plants which are most accommodating in their season of 

 blooming, and which may, with judicious treatment, be had in bloom at 

 any time of the year when required. 



It is, however, more particularly as Winter Decorative Plants that I would 

 draw especial attention to the superior merits and adaptabilities of these 

 Statices. They are not only effective for Conservatory embellishment, but ad- 

 mirably adapted for Sitting-room stands, and the various purposes for which 

 plants are in request for house decoration. When cut and associated with the 

 more decided colours of flowers, their fine corymbs of soft blue are very effective. 

 Taken as a whole, but few plants can vie with them in general utility. Easy of 

 management, and freely propagated in quantity, they are assuredly worthy of 

 more general cultivation. How, then, is it, I would ask, that these fine old plants 

 are so seldom met with, even in places where plants are grown in quantities 

 for ornamentation, and where every care and attention is lavished upon plants 

 not nearly so beautiful or useful ? Is not the cause to be ascribed to the desire 

 for, and the craving after, new and costly plants which has existed as a sort of 

 fashion, but which, I am pleased to observe, is fast giving place to a more just 

 appreciation of plants of real intrinsic worth, irrespective of their newness ? We 

 had in bloom here last December upwards of fifty plants of these Statices, well- 

 grown plants, with the pots completely hidden by the rich green foliage. They 

 were grown in 7-in., 8-in., and 10-in. pots, and on the plants of S. Holfordii 

 the flower-stems varied from ten to sixteen in number. 



I will now note a few particulars which may serve to guide those not ex- 

 perienced in the culture of these remarkably free-growing plants. When re- 

 quired for winter flowering, strong, healthy cuttings must be selected early in 

 February, and, after removing the greater portion of the leaves, they should be 



