282 THE GARDENER. [June 



planted with the Lady Downes Grape. It was about the middle of 

 April when the Rose was planted. It threw out several strong shoots, 

 which were kept tied in, and soon reached the top of the wall (16 feet) 

 — they were then trained along the wires, so that by the end of the 

 season they had made growths of about 30 feet in length. In January 

 these were cut back to about 12 feet, and soon began to burst into 

 growth, every eye throwing from one to three shoots, and all terminat- 

 ing in flower-buds; so that at the present time (May 9th) there are, in 

 every stage of development, on one plant 400 buds, which are regularly 

 distributed over the plant from bottom to top. The plant was green 

 all winter, having never yet cast off the foliage of last year, and shows 

 no signs of doing so — in fact it may be called an evergreen. 



J. G., W. 



CALADIUM CULTURE. 



Caladttjms are a genus of highly ornamental plants of fine growth, 

 easily cultivated, and requiring a strong moist heat to develop their 

 beauties ; they should be grown wherever ornamental and beautifully 

 variegated foliage is admired. 



As soon as the bulbs show signs of starting into growth they should 

 be potted into good turfy loam, a little leaf-mould, well-decomposed 

 cow-dung and sand, with a good addition of charcoal and bone meal. 

 In potting, use clean pots, well drained, with a layer of moss over the 

 crocks ; fill up the pots fully one-half with a portion of the roughest 

 soil, place the bulbs with a layer of sand at the base of each, 

 and use the largest bulbs for the largest-sized pots, the size of which 

 must be entirely regulated by the size of the specimens required 

 — 12 to 18 inches being a good size for show plants or exhibition 

 purposes, and small bulbs in 6-inch pots make good decorative plants — 

 then fill up with some of the finer soil, pressing all gently down with 

 the hand, and leaving plenty of room for water, which must be used 

 very sparingly at first, till the plants throw out roots ; and after they 

 progress in size and strength the quantity can be gradually increased. 

 A more vigorous growth can be induced by using guano-water occa- 

 sionally; but we prefer shifting them into larger-sized pots when they 

 become pot-bound, as the foliage loses part of its rich colour when 

 stimulants are used. 



When the sun is very strong they will require to be shaded, and 

 gently syringed on fine days early in the afternoon, in common with 

 the other occupants of the stove. They can also be well grown in a 

 vinery, where room is a consideration, but they never develop their 

 beauties so well under the shade of the Vines. As soon as they begin 

 to fade in the autumn, less water should be given, gradually decreasing 

 the quantity until it is entirely withheld. After growth has stopped, 

 and the bulbs fully matured, the foliage should be all cleared away, 



