236 THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



west coast of Australia. The species which claims pre-eminence for 

 beauty, the speciom of Don, now known as C. Dampierl, originally dis- 

 covered by Dampier in 1699, introduced to this country in 1850, and 

 flowered for the first time in March, 1858, by Messrs. Veitch, of King's 

 Road, Chelsea, and figured in the Floeal "World in August of the same 

 year. The species of Clianthus are not attractive except when in bloom, 

 their pinnated leaves are dull in colour, villous or pubescent ; and in 

 the case of C. Dampieri are positively dingy, as if covered with dust. 

 Their habit of growth, too, is generally without grace, and there is a 

 special need for the exercise of skill on the part of the cultivator to 

 make the plants as presentable as possible. When grown in a pot C. 

 puniceus makes a tolerably compact shrub, but has no beauty when out 

 of bloom. But as it is so nearly hardy, a very good place for it is on a 

 wall facing south in a very dry position, where it will require some 

 protection during frosty weather. Instances of success attained in the 

 cultivation of this plani out of doors have been several times detailed in 

 the pages of this work, and recently (May, 1863), we heard that the 

 Eev. F. riemyng had had one out of doors for years in the highlands of 

 Dumbartonshire, where it blossoms beautifully, and last winter was 

 only once protected with a mat at night. G. jDampieri is as hardy as 

 puniceus, but has not yet been much grown out of doors. But as it has 

 ceased to be a rarity, and its culture is now thoroughly imderstood, it 

 may be classed with half hardy plants suitable for walls, and must be 

 considered one of the grandest subjects known for such purposes. All 

 these plants are found growing on dry sandy soils, and the cultivator 

 will therefore understand that in every case a very complete drainage 

 and a soil consisting of loam, peat, sand, and small nodules of charcoal 

 will be most suitable for them. During winter they must have but little 

 or no water, be kept well aired during fine weather-, and have no encou- 

 ragement to grow ; in fact, starving is the only safe treatment then, as 

 the slightest tendency to grossness will result in disease, and perhaps 

 death. But with these precautions there will be found no difficulty in 

 growing any of the species, and the routine to be described for the treat- 

 ment of C. Dampieri will be found applicable to all, except in such few 

 particulars as will be determined by the habits of the species. 



Culture of 0. Dampieri. — If seed cannot be obtained, cuttings of 

 young shoots in spring may be struck under bell-glasses, in sand, on a 

 heat of 70°. It will be necessary to guard against damp, hence the 

 glasses should be taken off daily and dried before being replaced ; and as 

 goon as the cuttings have roots they should be potted separately in 60- 

 sizedpotSjin peat two parts, and silver sand one part, with plenty of 

 drainage, and have every encouragement to make a quick growth, with 

 plenty of light and air after they have been potted a week. But the 

 best plan to raise stock is by sowing seeds. These will not always 

 germinate unless steeped for twenty-four hours in water, at a tempera- 

 ture of 100°. In a propagating-house this can be easily done by putting 

 a pan over a tank ; where no such convenience exists, it must be attempted 

 by means of a ve'Sscl placed beside a fire. We have raised seeds without 

 steeping, by burying them a few days in the plunging material of a pine 

 pit. After the steeping sow them singly in 60-sized pots, in peat one 

 part, and silver sand one part. The reason for sowing singly must be 

 understood by the cultivator. If this plant is shifted frequently to larger 



