i88t.] CENTRADENIA ROSEA. 181 



mendable, though difficult to practise, as brevity undoubtedly is. 

 Guillon Mangilli is a winter-flowering variety of which it is impos- 

 sible to write in too glowing terms, as by a little trouble it is possible 

 to have an abundance of large trusses of semi- double, rosy- crimson 

 flowers throughout the winter and spring months. At the present 

 time, at Longleat, the plants are arranged in forcing-houses, in which 

 Kidney Beans, Tomatoes, and other heat -loving plants are growing. 

 They are disposed thinly, or otherwise the growth made would be too 

 succulent — the aim always in view being to keep them as sturdy as 

 possible. The majority of the plants are flow^ering for a second season 

 in the same pots (principally 10-inch), not having been cut back at all. 

 During the summer they are placed, but not plunged, in a sunny spot, 

 kept watered, and all bloom pinched ofi". The result is a sturdy growth 

 which will flower in heat, without becoming drawn and weakly — always 

 supposing the plants receive plenty of space and light. 



Let me advise those who are in the habit of stocking some of their 

 houses with large old Begonias, Coleus, &c., which frequently are of 

 but little value, to substitute a few large, well -prepared plants of 

 Guillon Mangilli — to which may be added Madame Thibaut, pink, 

 and Madame Baltet, white, securing from them a quantity of bloom, 

 useful alike for home use, or packing for travelling. W. I. 



[We grow this Pelargonium in quantity, and find it very use- 

 ful. A splendid free winter flowerer is Mrs Leavers, single. — Ed.] 



CENTRADENIA ROSEA. 



As not a few good old plants are being put aside to make room for 

 newer, though, very often, not so valuable ones — when valued 

 according to their beauty and usefulness, and not according to 

 their prices in the catalogues, for anything new brings always a good 

 price — to those who may not know Centradenia rosea (a Mexican 

 plant), I would introduce this old and useful stove-plant. It is of 

 a dwarf compact habit, leaves varying in length from ^ an inch to 1^ 

 inch, and about ^ of an inch in breadth ; dark green above, and purple 

 beneath. The flowers are rose-coloured, small, but very numerous. But 

 the greatest beauty of the plant is its fine graceful habit, in which re- 

 spect it rivals the Adiantums. It can be struck at almost any season 

 of the year, but the time most suitable is early in spring. Cuttings 

 with three or four shoots on them are the best, as plants can be 

 grown from these in a shorter time than from those with only 

 one shoot. They strike freely in a mixture of equal parts of peat 

 and silver sand, with a top-heat of 65° to 80^ The emission of root- 

 lets will be hastened by bottom-heat, but they strike without it. The 



