270 THE GARDENER. [June 



colour, inside and outside purplish ; A. li. purpurea has the large 

 flowers of macrantha, with the outer scales deep purple, and A. h. 

 rosea has large bright rose-coloured flowers. Macrantha and purpurea 

 are the most efi'ective varieties, and the most vigorous growers. Their 

 culture is very simple : they grow admirably in a light rich compost 

 made up of fibrous peat one part, and sandy fibrous loam two parts, 

 giving sand liberally, more or less, according as it may be deficient or 

 abundant in the compost naturally. The drainage requires to be good. 

 Cool greenhouse treatment suits them best, with light airy position in 

 winter. A cold frame, or the open air in an open but sheltered spot 

 in summer, is preferable to the greenhouse; but they should be housed 

 in autumn, before the rains drench the pots and destroy the roots. 

 They are usually trained in the form of dwarf bush specimens, and, to 

 my mind, this appears the most natural way of doing them ; but 

 variety of form is often necessary as well as pleasing, and may be ob- 

 tained with comparative ease with these greenhouse everlastings. 

 They can be trained into the form of pyramids or dwarf standards 

 with as much ease almost as a Fuchsia or Azalea, only stakes and tying 

 are necessary in these styles in this case. Tor standards, a neat wire 

 trellis of the umbrella shape is indispensable ; but for pyramids only a 

 stout central stake is necessary, for the purpose of supporting the main 

 stem or stems, as it is better to be provided with two or three rather 

 than dependent on one in case of accidents. The plant should be 

 formed by pruning more closely above than below, allowing the central 

 leaders to extend till the requisite height is reached, and taking care 

 to have the sides equally furnished with laterals at all points. Plants 

 not fully formed should not be allowed to flower much, if any, espe- 

 cially those intended for pyramids. They will the more quickly become 

 enjoyable objects, if their energies are concentrated on growth for the 

 first tw^o years from cuttings, during which period shifting into larger 

 pots and stopping the shoots should be carefully attended to in accord- 

 ance with the rate of growth. Large shifts should not be given at any 

 time, and the new soil should be made rather firm as it is filled into 

 the pots. "Well-established plants require to have the old shoots 

 thinned out moderately annually, in order to keep up a supply of 

 strong healthy laterals. No matter what form they are grown in, these 

 when allowed to extend become weak and unmanageable, and yield 

 small flowers in small numbers. They are easily propagated by cut- 

 tings of ripe but not hard shoots as early as they can be got in the 

 summer. If the propagating house is not too airy no bell-glass is neces- 

 sary. They are somewhat liable to damp, and if a glass must be used, 

 it should be removed at night, or during part of the night and dull 

 days. Sandy peat is most suitable for the cuttings. 



