i879-] LIBONIA FLORIBUNDA. 205 



as are at command, to hasten that desirable condition of early well- 

 developed growth before they are exposed to the atmosphere of a 

 cold frame. At the same time, in a warm climate and in a " favour- 

 able season," there is no doubt but that these plants could be well 

 managed without a particle of fire-heat after they had a little warmth 

 to start them in ; and their growth, although a little shorter than that 

 made in a warmer and closer atmosphere, would be as certain, if not 

 more so, to yield an abundance of flowers, provided it was thoroughly 

 ripened in the autumn. When the plants are housed they ought to 

 be kept near the light and only moderately supplied with water, as 

 they are liable to suffer and lose their leaves if over-watered and 

 kept in a low temperature. "When they are required to come into 

 flower, the temperature should be raised gradually to that of a warm 

 greenhouse, and afterwards increased as circumstances may require. 

 Year-old plants that are trimmed back are treated much the same as 

 plants that are raised from cuttings, except that in the latter case 

 they do not require a high temperature at any time. They are par- 

 tially shaken out and repotted, and when started in a gentle warmth 

 they grow freely and make fine bushes the second season. 



W. Hinds. 



Although within the last few years this beautiful and useful green- 

 house plant has been several times brought under the notice of your 

 readers by various writers, it is astonishing that we see it so seldom 

 adorning the stages of the amateur's greenhouse. When in full 

 bloom, the appearance of the plant is highly effective. The flowers, 

 which are of a tubular shape, red and yellow in colour, present a 

 telling contrast with the rich glossy foliage, which is a striking 

 feature of the plant. If a proper system of culture has been 

 previously followed, the plants will begin flowering in November, 

 and continue to flower for months. The particular plant in my 

 possession began flowering at the time referred to, and is still in 

 flower at this date (12th March). Younger plants will come on in 

 succession. The propagation and culture of this plant are not neces- 

 sarily a difficult matter, therefore good growers of the ordinary run 

 of soft-wooded greenhouse plants need have no hesitation on that 

 score in beginning with it. Cuttings of the young wood inserted 

 in the usual light compost root readily at this season, when placed 

 in a warm, moist temperature, and kept close and shaded. When 

 sufficiently rooted, they should at once be potted off into thumb 

 pots, in a compost of loam, sand, and horse-droppings, or some bone- 

 meal. If leaf-mould is mixed with the soil, it should be only a very 



