280 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



have a temperature never lower than 5<P. 

 The soil, fibry peat, loam, sand, small 

 crocks, and charcoal. The cool end of the 

 dry stove is the best place for it this time 

 of year. 



Leucocoryne ixioides. — A beautiful 

 half-hardy bulb from Chili, producing 

 now its l;lac flowers. Requires the same 

 treatment as Ixia. Soil, turfy peat, and 

 best planted out in a conservatory border, 

 though very useful as a pot plant. 



Mesembryanthemum bifidum, crassi- 

 folium and serrulatum. — These -winter- 

 flowering species require much care at this 

 season, as if they are allowed to get too 

 wet at the root, or if the drainage is de- 

 fective, they are sure to perish, unless 

 enjoying stove temperature. The amount 

 of moisture at the root must he in propor- 

 tion to the temperature of the house ; and 

 if very little fire-heat is used, keep the 

 plants nearly dry. Of the three named 

 above, the first has yellow flowers, the 

 other two pink. 



Myoporv.m parvifolium. — A pretty 

 white-flowered Australian evergreen shrub, 

 of a gemis which furnishes about a dozen 

 useful species. M. parvifolium has very 

 small leaves, and is nearly hardy, and a 

 good plant to train on a sheltered wall, in 

 a dry bed of gritty peat ; when grown in 

 pots, all these need the usual treatment of 

 New Holland shrubs — fibry loam and 

 peat, and a good sprinkling of nodules of 

 charcoal. A cool greenhouse suffices for 

 this species, but the others require a 

 rather warm berth, arid as much air and 

 light as Ericas. 



ATyrsi/ie coriacea. — A greenhouse or 

 stove evergreen, of the Ardisiad tribe, from 

 Jamaica ; soil, sandy loam and peat. 



Oxalis laxula, variabilis, and fru- 

 ticosa. — These charming plants are worth 

 any amount of care to keep a few in 

 bloom all winter. They require warmth 

 aud protection from damp. It will be as 

 well, also, to remove dead blooms with a 

 pair of scissors once or twice a week, to 

 keep the pans looking fresh and bright. 

 We always grow plants of this sort in 

 pans a foot or so wide, as these are handy 

 at any time to be placed on the drawing- 

 room table. 



Phylica pinea. — Of this Cape Rham- 

 <nad, we have had in bloom at this season, 

 P. pinea, P. imbricata, P. nitida eriophora, 

 and P. rosmarinifolia, all white-flowered ; 

 two or three species will be sufficient for 

 any moderate collection. Grow in a porous 

 soil of peat, sand, and broken freestone, 

 and treat as Ericas. 



Bittosporum Jlavum, — This yellow- 

 flowered Pittospoium is very nearly hardy, 



but of no use out of doors, even in shel- 

 tered places, because of its blooming at a 

 season when frost would be likely to de- 

 stroy its beauty. It is a fine shrub, with 

 sweetly-scented flowers, and lasts a con- 

 siderable time in bloom. 



Rhododendron BrooTceanum and Ja- 

 vanicum. — The first is a fine Bornean 

 species, with reddish-salmon flowers, which 

 requires stove culture, and is well worth it 

 for its showy trusses at this season. The 

 second is a 6mall-growing kind from Java, 

 and is known as a rare and exquisitely 

 beautiful species, with yellow flowers, also 

 requiring the stove, and abundance of 

 water all the season of growth. 



Salvia fulgens is a glorious plant for 

 winter blooming, and never fails, if rightly 

 managed, to bloom for months together. 

 The soil should be rich and light, and the 

 plants kept from blooming till wanted by 

 occasional small shifts and stopping the 

 shoots ; then, if the wood is well ripened 

 in autumn, and the plants allowed to get 

 pot-bound, a good greenhouse temperature 

 will keep them going till Christmas. 



Witsenia maiira. — A useful herbaceous 

 plant for late bloom in the stove or green- 

 house, but now very rarely seen. Best 

 grown to large stools in a compost of turfy 

 loam, peat, and sand. Offsets may be 

 taken off in April, and potted in sandy 

 peat, and placed in a gentle bottom-heat. 

 It belongs to the Iris family. 



Zygophyllum cordifolium and macu- 

 la/am. — This is the Bean-caper from the 

 Cape of Good Hope, of which about twenty 

 species are in cultivation. They are very 

 nearly hardy, and the annual kinds are use- 

 ful border flowers. Both those named have 

 yellow flowers, the second of the two being 

 spotted. Z. album may also be had in 

 bloom during October and November. 



Globulea atro-pitrptirea. — A very 

 pretty and useful greenhouse succulent, of 

 very low growth, and with purple flowers, 

 requiring the same treatment as others of 

 the class. 



Orindclia Zamberfi. — A yellow- 

 flowered evergreen half-hardy herbaceous 

 plant, belonging to the Aster division of 

 the Composites. Ours have been in bloom 

 since the second week in August, in the 

 open air, but must be housed for the winter. 



Malva campanidata.— A pretty green- 

 house evergreen shrub, requiring a rich, 

 light soil and generous culture, and well 

 worth the necessary care for the sake of its 

 bell-shaped lilac flowers, which are very 

 cheerful at this dull season. 



Meycnia erecta. — A small shrub be- 

 longing to the natural order Acanthaceas ; 

 the flowers purple, with yellow tubes. It 



