136 THE FLORIST. 



view appears to be to get a large plant in a short time, without once 

 considering how it is to bloom. I admit that you can obtain more 

 growth or longer wood in one year, by giving them strong damp 

 bottom-heat, than could be got from the principle I have recom- 

 mended ; but the plants are kept too long, and too strongly excited, 

 to be short-jointed or even blooming. They will keep throwing out 

 strong shoots from the bottom, and when these have made growth 

 from one to two feet in length, they will continue to throw out 

 others ; and keeping them growing, and making irregular wood in 

 this way, is the cause why there is never at one time a sufficient 

 quantity of wood in a proper state to bloom to perfection, and year 

 after year passes away without this condition being induced. Those 

 who are beginning to grow this beautiful plant should never aim at 

 long luxuriant growth ; try to obtain short-jointed, sound, healthy 

 wood, which by patience and perseverance you will accomplish, and 

 you will find yourself amply repaid for discontinuing the railroad- 

 speed plan of growing them. Rest satisfied by doing them all the 

 justice you can while in a state to receive it, and rest them at that 

 season when they require it, which is in winter. As the plant pro- 

 gresses in size use the soil in a much rougher state, by only breaking 

 the peat in pieces with the hand, using sharp sand with it rather 

 liberally, and mixing some large pieces of charcoal with it also. I 

 would never recommend a plant that is required to bloom the follow- 

 ing spring to be shifted later than July, as late shifting will only keep 

 them excited too late in the season, and the growth they make will 

 be long, soft, and unripe ; but if it is borne in mind to give them 

 their last shift early, the wood will be strong and robust, and will 

 have finished growing before winter. I would also advise that, when 

 the plants in the stove are arranged for the winter, the Ixoras should 

 be elevated above the others ; place them on pots, in order that you 

 may bring them closer to the glass, where they will receive more sun , 

 and air, which will cause them to set every point of their shoots with 

 bloom. As soon as this is ascertained to be the case, do not syringe 

 them over their tops, as too much moisture over head at this season 

 will cause them to cast their bloom -buds and open with imperfect 

 heads. When they begin to expand their flowers, a little mild manure- 

 water will be found of the greatest benefit to them, applying it once 

 every week. 



The greatest pest we have to encounter among the Ixoras is the 

 mealy bug, which, if not kept in check, will often destroy the whole 

 bloom. For the destruction of these I would recommend the appli- 

 cation of hot water, which will entirely destroy them as well as their 

 progeny. Heat your water for the purpose to 140°; this can be as- 

 certained by placing the thermometer in the water-pot. When you 

 apply it, lay the plant down upon its side upon the hand-barrow, and 

 syringe it about the top with as much force as you can, at the same 

 time keeping it turned round, so that all parts may have an equal 

 share. If this is repeated every fortnight, it will soon destroy them 

 all ; but it must be understood that this cannot be applied when the 

 plant is growing and the wood soft and tender, or the consequence 



