SUGGESTIONS ON THE CULTIVATION OP THE GLOXINIA. 



over the ■whole structure ; this may, in part, be accomplished by keeping the vines 

 covered from the invigorating action of the sun's rays until a few more of the cold 

 "snaps" have passed over, and when the buds can no longer be kept back, instead 

 of tying down the tops as usual, which has a tendency to retard the upward pro- 

 gress of the rising fluid, or rather to compel it to take a lateral course, thereby 

 forcing it, while still in a watery state, to ooze out through the sides of the injured 

 cells. The better plan will be to tie the vines up at once, which will assist in 

 enabling it to flow more freely upwards, and over every part alike, the probability 

 being that it will the more surely combine with the stored-up and more solid 

 material, which is intended by nature, at this period, to furnish the substance for 

 fresh cellular matter, and so fill up all interstices in the form of a mucilage, that 

 will harden after a time, and repair the mischief in the same way as the healing 

 of a wound in the animal body. In this particular peculiarity there is no occa- 

 sion to be so exact about the lower buds, for if the injury that is to be apprehended 

 has been done, there will be sufficient stoppage to the upper permeation this sea- 

 son, without any extra curtailment of the plant's natural action, which, when once 

 obtained, will repair all former injury. 



This simple reasoning may be thought " small talk" by some of your readers ; 

 but I can answer for it that one crop of grapes, at least, was received in fine con- 

 dition last year where it was put into practice, while some others in different 

 places showed the lack of it, and it is purposely sent at the present time to pre- 

 vent, if possible, a repetition of similar casualities, which are likely to occur from 

 the intense cold of the late winter. 



I would add, in conclusion, that many of the cherries and a few other kinds of 

 trees here are being split from the bark to the centre, the whole length of the 

 trunks, by the action of the frost and dry, cold winter winds. {Query. — Is not 

 this the cause of " gumming ?") 



SUGGESTIONS ON THE CULTIYATION OF THE 



GLOXINIA. 



BY DANIEL BARKER, UTICA, NEW YORK. 



Amongst the numerous plants which are highly deserving of more universal 

 cultivation, and a greater degree of attention, than is usually bestowed upon 

 tliem, the Gloxinia stands conspicuous in an eminent degree. Although plants 

 are to be met with in many collections, it has but rarely been in that state of per- 

 fection of which it is susceptible, being, for the most part, subjected to only the 

 ordinary treatment of a miscellaneous collection of greenhouse plants. 



The plants, comprehended in the natural order, to which the Gloxinia belongs, 

 are, many of them, inhabitants of deep-shaded dells, or of their immediate vicinity, 

 in the tropical parts of the world. Many of them have their habitation on old 

 decayed logs, and other rich decaying vegetable matter, while others grow upon 



