SEPTEMBER. 207 



bast-mat. I have seen many trees struck by the electric fluid, but 

 never before have I seen such havoc as this. 



Blackheath, Avg. 11, 1853. Wm. P. Ayres. 



LESCHENAULTIA FORMOSA. 



This beautiful and continuous-blooming greenhouse-plant, when 

 well-grown, is surpassed by few ; and a little extra attention bestowed 

 upon it will amply repay the cultivator for his trouble. First, pro- 

 cure a nice healthy bushy plant to begin with ; examine the roots, 

 and if found in a healthy state, shift into a larger well-drained pot. 

 Prepare for it some rough fibrous light peat, mix with it half the 

 quantity of sharp silver-sand and some rubbly charcoal ; when pot- 

 ting, care must be taken not to press the soil down too close, as the 

 roots are of a fleshy nature, and delight in soil where they can extend 

 themselves with freedom. When potted, the plants can be removed 

 either to a close cold frame or the greenhouse, where they will soon 

 begin to make rapid growth. Should the weather be bright and 

 sunny, shade them from the mid-day sun ; this may be continued 

 through the summer, as they delight in a partially shaded situation. 

 I have seen many plants that have been exposed to the sun become 

 brown in their foliage and unhealthy, and very rarely ever after- 

 wards make good specimens, even under the most favourable treat- 

 ment. 



Keeping them close, and shading them for several hours in the 

 day for some time after they have been fresh potted, encourages 

 them to start into growth freely ; sprinkle them over their tops 

 in the afternoon before the sun is too powerful, and remove the 

 shading altogether as they advance in growth. Give them a little 

 air by raising the lights behind them, and increase the quantity as 

 they become established in their new pots ; if they succeed well, they 

 will soon require another shift, which should be given them before 

 the season is too far advanced. Any loose straggling wood that may 

 present itself should be removed, to make the plant bushy and sym- 

 metrical in form, and the bloom should be continually picked off 

 them, until they are of sufficient size to form nice specimens, when 

 they may be allowed to bloom. By keeping three or four, a succes- 

 sion of fine blooming plants may be obtained, without allowing either 

 plant to continue too long in flower, which would weaken and ulti- 

 mately exhaust them ; but by keeping a succession of plants, and 

 allowing one to bloom only a certain time, and removing the flower- 

 buds from the others, until they are in their turn required to bloom, 

 will always insure a good succession ; and as soon as the plant that 

 has been in flower for some time is succeeded by another, remove all 

 the blossoms from it, and start it into growth, in order to make it 

 ready to take its turn again with the others. It will be found neces- 



