of Rural Art and Taste. 



327 



tity during the summer, and to be well 

 syringed. In the winter little water need be 

 given, and if in a cool house, must be kept 

 quite dry, and the water not allowed to settle 

 in the crowns, or the heart will decay. In a hot, 

 dry house, the water which collects in the crown 

 like a cup is of advantage, being the natural 

 reservoir to supply the wants of the plant in 

 the dry hot weather of its native locality. 

 Some of the species will make two growths, 

 and flower twice during the year ; at the same 

 time there is usually another shoot starting 

 from the bottom to take the place of the one 

 which has flowered, which, like the pine apple 

 plant, only fruits once from same growth. At 

 any time after flowering the old shoot may be 

 cut clean away, but we usually allow the young 

 growth to be well advanced before doing so ; 

 frequently there will be roots formed on the 

 young growth ; but if not, it can be cut clean 

 away from the old stem and put in a small 

 pot, it will soon form roots if kept rather dry 

 and hot for a time. Frequently there will be 

 other shoots come from the old stump, which 

 may be preserved if desirable for that purpose. 

 The plant gets on one side from each fresh 

 growth, or it Avould continue to grow and 

 flower from same pot, without disturbing, for 

 a number of years. A small white scale is 

 sometimes troublesome, and must be cleansed 

 away before it becomes established, or the 

 plants had better be throvm away. 



Fot Roses, excepting a few required for 

 early flowering, these are best kept in a cold 

 frame, where no watering will be required ; 

 those advancing into young growth must have 

 careful watering, and be dusted with sulphur 

 if mildew is seen ; in fact, a sprinkle of sul- 

 phur is a good preventive, and a light fumiga- 

 tion with tobacco will prevent green fly. 



Baskets, — The most desirable plants for 

 winter baskets, either for rooms or greenhouse, 

 are Echeverias and Epiphyllums, the earlier 

 varieties of the latter will be now commencing 

 to flower. These plants require very little 

 attention, and are always satisfactory. 



Crassula Lactea must now be allowed to 

 get rather dry, and have the full sun, or it 

 will not flower much. Eucharis must be also 



kept rather dry for a few weeks, but not 

 enough to lose its foliage. If the plant is in 

 good condition, and it has a brisk heat, it will 

 flower well at the New Year. 



Gesnerias, of the Zebrina class, if grown 

 in a warm house will now be in full beauty, 

 and make a fine show. They require liberal 

 watering at this season, but be careful not to 

 wet the foliage. 



Grftpe lines, if grown on the roof of 

 greenhouse may be now pruned, and the stems 

 painted with clay and sulphur. This is the 

 best preventive for mildew, which is very 

 troublesome among European vines in this 

 country. The vines should be turned down 

 to the coolest part of the house, to prevent 

 premature breaking of the buds. 



Conservator!/ Climhers, — The Dijtla- 

 deiiia. — Dipladenia is one of the modern 

 favorites in the list of conservatory climbers. 

 The Gardener'' s Record thinks too much prom- 

 inence cannot be given to it ; for, " like many 

 climbing plants, it blooms best when grown 

 prominently forward near to the glass, and 

 perhaps to perfection near to the roof of an 

 intermediate house, with general temperature 

 not below about 55*^. Dipladenias are natives 

 of Central America, and belong to the order 

 of Dogbanes, a name given by Dr. Lindley to 

 a certain class of plants, which I believe Lin- 

 naeus described as having contorted or twisted- 

 like flowers, with corollas resembling a cathe- 

 rine-wheel firework in motion. To this family 

 belong the Periwinkle, the Oleander, etc. 

 With twining habit, and large graceful flowers 

 nearly five inches in diameter, in form like a 

 Convolvulus, and with color varying from pale 

 pink or French white, to clear delicate rosy 

 pink, I know not any more lovely climbing 

 plant for summer, and what is commonly called 

 early autumn. It may. be grown from layers, 

 from cuttings, and from seed. 



Double Blue Pceonies. — These are sup- 

 posed to be genuine plants of Blue Pseonies 

 in existence in China ; for Chinese drawings 

 have made their way to England, and are in 

 the possession of an English horticulturist. 



