iSSi.] ALLAMANDAS FOR AUTUMN & WINTER. 493 



Only a poor conception can be formed of the capabilities of this plant 

 to produce a striking picture, when grown and trained upon a 4 or 5 

 feet trellis. 



Allamandas bloom fully eight months out of the twelve, and a 

 solitary plant, if well and judiciously -grown, will produce flowers over 

 that period of time. With about three plants, started at different 

 times, it is not difficult to obtain a supply all the year round. If a 

 plant commences flowering in May, it will go on producing blooms until 

 after Christmas ; and if started a month or two later, it will of course 

 flower until February or March. One important point to be considered 

 is — those plants intended to bloom through the dark.days of winter 

 should not be allowed to commence blooming too early in the season. 

 They appear to become exhausted in producing quantities of flowers 

 in much less time during the sunless days of our winter than is the 

 case during summer ; and those that wish to achieve success should 

 make provision for this. 



Some may suppose the flowers of Allamandas are of but little ser- 

 vice for cutting, except the entire stem bearing the flowers is severed 

 from the plant ; but they are invaluable, especially during autumn 

 and winter. Here the single flowers only are removed, with no wood 

 attached, and we pack hundreds in course of the season, and find they 

 travel well. For low dishes or vases, these flowers are graced with a 

 few fronds of Maidenhair Fern, intermixed with a few sprays of any 

 other flower that will contrast well and rise out lightly from the 

 ground of yellow. 



Allamandas are easily propagated by means of cuttings at any season 

 of the year when young growing shoots can be obtained. If rooted at 

 once, a good and early start can be made the following year. They 

 should be inserted singly in small pots, and if plunged into bottom- 

 heat will quickly throw out a number of roots. When the roots reach 

 the sides of the pots they should be transferred into others, 6 inches in 

 diameter, and the one shoot allowed to extend until it reaches the 

 height where the roof commences. The young shoot should then be 

 pinched, in order to cause it to make two, which should be allowed to 

 extend in an upright direction until the end of the season. They must 

 be transferred into larger pots as they require it, until placed in 10-inch 

 ones, which are large enough for the first year. The young plants will, 

 if properly attended to, produce a few flowers during the season, and 

 make plants as strong as ordinary pot- Vines will do in a season from 

 eyes. 



When the wood is well ripened, the plants must be brought to a 

 standstill and rested for a time, and then cut back, leaving each shoot 

 fully a yard in length. The shoots should be laid horizontally at the 

 base of the roof, after placing the plants in 12-inch pots. By this 

 means the shoots left will break growths from nearly every eye, which 

 should be trained upright, except the extreme shoot at either end. 



