234 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[August, 



colors, from the plain leaf to very deep and dis- 

 tinct zoned bi and tri-oolored. Those flowers 

 that prove true to original plants, in many in- 

 stances are larger and brighter, whilst in others 

 they are smaller. 



Have raised many plants with markings and 

 inflorescence entirely distinct from any of the 

 plants originally set out. One of last year's 

 plants, a seedling of 1880, gives a large fine single 

 bloom with pure white throat, centre of the 

 petals dark rose, margined pure white. I have 

 others of very interesting and distinct character- 

 istics. 



These experiments were made solely for plea- 

 sure and not for pecuniary profit. I have no 

 plants to sell. 



develop; otherwise a profusion of bloom and 

 large flowers cannot be expected. Manure 

 water may be used to great advantage at this 

 season. I should have mentioned that it is par- 

 ticularly necessary to drain the pots well with 

 broken crocks and rubble with a covering of 

 rough soil, as nothing is more injurious than 

 stagnant water at the roots. 



When the flowering season begins and the 

 flowers expand, remove the plants to the green- 

 house, taking care to shade them from the sun. 

 When the flowering season is over reduce water- 

 ing by degrees until the roots are in a state of 

 rest for three or four months at least. Be care- 

 ful not to over-dry them, as by such practice, I 

 have often found they do not break the next 

 season. 



ON THE CULTURE OF THE GLOXINIAS. 



BY JOHN WOODING, PENCOYD, PA. 



To begin with propagation, select strong heal- 

 thy leaves, cut the strong ribs in several places, 

 lay the leaves flat in a convenient sized pot or 

 seed pan and cover the several cut parts with a 

 little white silver sand, using a compost of sand 

 and peat mould. 



When struck and swelled to the size of a pea, 

 pot off in two-inch pots, using a compost of dead 

 leaf mould, light loam and sand in equal parts .' 

 grow them on through the season and most of 

 them will flower the first year. 



To commence the second season's growth ; in 

 potting Gloxineas the principal part of the old 

 soil should be removed carefully with the hand, 

 retaining all the fibrous roots as far as they are 

 alive, put into as small pots as possible, setting 

 them in a dry part of the stove. Attend to 

 watering, but this element must be supplied 

 cautiously at first, taking care not to water over 

 the crown of the plant, but around the edge of the 

 pot. As the plant advances in growth it may oc- 

 casionally be syringed with tepid water. When 

 the pot becomes filled with roots, shift the plants, 

 using the same soil as before. As the spring ad- 

 vances the plant must be started into active 

 growth by being placed in the warmest part of 

 the stove; but it will be necessary that they 

 should have air at all favorable times. Particu- 

 larly attend to watering at this time, as they are 

 very impatient of drought at this stage of their 

 growth. When the plants have filled the pots \ 

 with roots they may receive their last shift. The ! 

 size of pots may be regulated by the size of the 1 

 plants, allowing plenty of room for the plants to I 



BICNONIA VENUSTA. 



BY MR. CHAS. E. PARNELL. 



The lovely trumpet-flower, Bignonia venusta, 

 is a gorgeous, ornamental, climbing plant be- 

 longing to the natural order, Bignoniacese. It is 

 a native of South America, from whence it was 

 introduced in 1816. It is a deciduous green- 

 house climber, attaining a length of over fifty 

 feet, producing its bright orange-colored flowers 

 in large terminal clusters from February to 

 April. In order to flower this Bignonia to per- 

 fection it is absolutely necessary to plant it in a 

 well prepared border of rich, loamy soil, and 

 where its roots can obtain some warmth from 

 the heating apparatus. It also must have an 

 abundance of room for its roots, and likewise 

 for its branches; for if these essential requisites 

 are not given it, it must not be expected to 

 flower well. It also requires to be properly 

 pruned ; young plants three or four years old 

 will flower nicely if they are properly pruned. 

 In pruning, use a little judgment; cut back all 

 weak and unripened wood to one eye, retaining 

 as much of the strong and well-ripened wood as 

 possible. All branches that are retained should 

 be neatly tied up, spreading them out as much 

 as possible, and as they increase in growth they 

 should be kept tied. Do not pinch back the 

 young shoots on any account, but, if possible, 

 allow them to ramble at will. 



During its season of growth water should be 

 freely given, and the plant frequently syringed, 

 and when in full growth liquid manure water 

 should be given once a week if possible. During 

 the summer season, or when the plant is at rest. 



