442 THE, GARDENER. [Oct. 



months, just when exhibitions are most numerous. It is also distinct 

 — no mean consideration in a collection of exhibition plants, where 

 striking contrast conduces almost as much as good culture to an 

 exhibitor's success. Too much stress can scarcely be laid on the observ- 

 ance of the latter fact, since growing plants to perfection and showing 

 them off to the best advantage are qualifications not often found in 

 the same exhibitor. The Stephanotis is easily propagated any time 

 during the spring or early summer by taking off the lateral branches 

 or shoots when two or three inches long and inserting them in a well- 

 drained cutting-pot, which should be plunged into a genial bottom 

 heat of 70° or 80°, and kept comparatively close and humid until 

 roots are emitted. The plant is also freely increased by seed, which 

 is occasionally borne in fleshy pods the size of a Jargonelle pear, the 

 stalk being at the thick end. Seed germinates very quickly if sown 

 as soon as ripe, and the seedling-plants grow far more rapidly than 

 cuttings, though they do not as a rule flower so early or so pro- 

 fusely ; hence cuttings are in general to be preferred. The compost 

 must be both hearty and moderately rich, as the plant is a gross 

 feeder ; and in order to induce a tendency to flower profusely, let its 

 roots get confined in the pot. When the soil is exhausted, a few 

 doses of clear liquid manure are highly beneficial, especially after the 

 flower-buds make their appearance in the axils of the upper leaves. 

 Two parts of fibrous loam, one part of peat, and a fourth of well- 

 decayed leaf mould and rotten hot-bed manure mixed, makes a fine 

 compost for this plant, with the addition of a handful or two of coarse 

 sand. Young plants should be encouraged to make vigorous growth, 

 as a tendency to flower is easily induced by temporary starvation, or 

 moderate dryness at the root. When the flowers once begin to show, 

 growth may again be encouraged, as a cluster of pearly blossoms will 

 then appear in every succeeding axil in regular succession. The plant 

 should be neatly tied or trained on a balloon trellis ; and after it is 

 well covered with foliage, train the ends of the shoots up single strings, 

 close under the glass, and allow them to get the full sun, with plenty 

 of heat and air. This induces short-pointed, well-developed wood ; 

 and when assisted by a judicious use of the watering-pot, as above 

 recommended, is a certain method of flowering this beautiful plant to 

 perfection. Shoots grown close to the glass in this way are not unfre- 

 quently covered with clusters of snowy blossoms and pale green buds 

 for five or six feet, and go on flowering and producing fresh clusters of 

 buds for weeks together. AYhen the plant is required for exhibition, 

 the shoots can be taken down and arranged so as to cover the plant ; 

 and a day or two suffices to open out the flowers if the plant is placed 

 in a light and sunny position. If the plant is too forward it will bear 



