116 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



If we mention, as conveners of Centradenia, such genera as Pleroma, 

 Lasiandra, Melastoma, Osbeckia, JfonocJicetum, and Medinilla, we shall 

 have said enough to show that this pretty plant has very respectable 

 relationships. 



Propagation. — This is one of the easiest plants to propagate by 

 means of cuttings, and the operation may be performed at any season 

 the whole year round. But it is not advisable to disregard the time of 

 year and the condition of the plant to be cut from, for these circumstances 

 have much to do with the relative vigour and beauty of the specimens to be 

 formed hereafter. When only green succulent shoots can be obtained, 

 as may happen in the case of having them as a gift, very great care is 

 required to root them. But the best cuttings, and those alone which 

 should be used when the cultivator can choose for himself, are those 

 taken from firm ripe wood of the previous season. The usual mode of 

 striking cuttings of stove and greenhouse plants must be resorted to ; 

 pots or pans filled to within two inches of the rim with a mixture of 

 equal parts fine peat and silver-sand, and then to the rim with silver- 

 sand alone. Insert the cuttings — the shorter the better — in the sand, 

 and water gently to settle them, put bell-glasses over, and place the 

 pots on a gentle bottom-heat where they can be shaded from sunshine; 

 when they have made root remove the bell-glasses and let them get 

 moderately hardened for a week, then put them in small pots, using- 

 equal parts of leaf-mould, fibry-peat, and silver-sand. The mixture for 

 potting need not be sifted ; it is best to break up the peat and leaf- 

 mould as small as hazel-nuts, then mixing them well with the sands 

 use it rough and fine together, closing in round the tender roots with 

 the most dusty portions of the mixture, water freely and place on bot- 

 tom-heat in the shade again for four or five days, and then remove them 

 to a shelf near the glass in the stove. 



Koutijs'e Culture. — Some cultivators keep them growing in 

 the stove the whole of the first season, a system which we prefer, 

 so as to take full advantage of the initial vigour of the young 

 plants. But they ought to have somewhat of a rest in the latter 

 part of the summer, by being taken to the greenhouse for a few weeks ; 

 but they should not be put out of doors or exposed to any harsh treat- 

 ment, such as withholding water or placing them in a draughty place. In 

 September or October give a shift to the next size pots, and place in 

 the stove. The compost for this and every subsequent shift should be 

 equal parts hazel loam, fibry peat, leaf-mould, small nodules of charcoal, 

 and silver-sand. This will be very light and porous, and the roots will 

 rejoice in it. At the end of March again take them to the greenhouse, 

 which will result in a more moderate growth than if they remain later 

 in the stove, so as to obviate the necessity of stopping the shoots, and 

 they will flower the better for it. Shade slightly during the months of 

 May, June, and July ; after July let them be fully exposed to sunshine, 

 and'thev will form an abundance of flower-buds and have fine heads by 

 the time they are taken to the stove again. Eemove some to the 

 stove again in October, others may follow in November and December, 

 and a few may remain in the greenhouse, where they must have the 

 warmest end. 



With such treatment a profuse winter bloom will be produced, 

 and the plants will occasion but little trouble to keep them in health 



