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JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ April 12, 1877. 



to be oonfounded with them. The manner in which the leaves 

 are evolved is highly curious and extremely beautiful, similar 

 to that in which the fronda of the Fern tribe are developed, to 

 which they are also somewhat allied. The attractive leaves 

 of the Draoienaa and the ornameutal foliage of the Aralias are 

 scattered about in various parts, forming pleaeing features in 

 the scene, particularly the hybrid varieties lately introduced by 

 cultivators. Around the pillars and upon the rafters various 

 climbing plants are entwining. Of Ferns there is an immense 

 stock. The collection comprises every desirable kind from 

 all parts of the world. Several large houses are devoted to 

 their culture, and great attention is bestowed on them. Those 

 from the tropics are peculiarly grand and imposing. Several 

 of the speiies attain the size and appearance of some Palm 

 trees, with fronds most elegant. They are for the most part 

 easily cultivated. It is surprising that this extensive and 

 elegant class of plants should have been so long neglected, 

 for who can watch even our common British Ferns — those 

 humble denizens of the earth — bursting from the ground in 

 spring, without experiencing emotions of pleasure ? 



The Succulent house is a capacious span-roofed building 

 200 feet in length by 30 feet in width. It contains a very fine 

 collection of plants, and it would be difficult to find anywhere 

 a house of plants more remarkable and grotesque. One of the 

 most curious plants in the house is the Old Man Caotns (Pilo- 

 cerus senilis). This odd plant is covered with long, whitish, 

 hair-liko appendages separating on the top like the oombed 

 locks of some veteran. Another object, very quaint-looking, 

 is the Opuutia vulgaris or Prickly Pear; its Fig-like fruit is 

 eatable. There are several varieties of this plant. Opuntia 

 cochinilifera, the plant on which that valuable insect prin- 

 cipally feeds upon, is represented. Another prominent object 

 is the Torch Thistle (Cereus Jamaoaru), native of Tropical 

 America. The Euphorbias are strange-looking plants ; they 

 are natives of Africa, India, and Tropical America principally, 

 but different members of the genus are found all over the 

 world, and are generally known by the name of " Deadly Milk 

 Plant." The Cactuses are also very numerous, some of them 

 of a gigantic size and fierce aspect. The exquisite beauty and 

 perfume of the flowers of very many of the species are also so 

 btriking that no collection can be considered complete without 

 them. Of the genus Aloe the collection contains many large 

 and striking plants ; some of the species are well known for 

 their medicinal qualities, such as the Aloe socotrina. The 

 Aloe barbadensis, A. vulgaris, A. epicata, and the Tree Aloo 

 (arborescens), are principally cultivated in the West Indian 

 islands for the purpose of producing the Aloes of commerce. 



Before leaving this house I will remark, that besides the in- 

 teresting plants I have thus briefly alluded to there are 

 hundreds of others which strike the visitor's attention, such 

 as the noble Dasylirions, the Beaucarneas with their drooping 

 leaves from (J to 8 feet long, Crassulas, Cotyledons, Kleinias, 

 and Mesembryanthemuma. 



The Orchid houses are of great extent. Several hundred 

 species of these plants are in successful cultivation. This 

 numerous tribe certainly surpasses any others with which we 

 are acquainted, whether their delicacy of tint, curious form, or 

 intricacy of structure is regarded. It is impossible to view a 

 collection of these plants when in flower without, astonishment 

 at the wonderful resemblance to some work either of animal 

 nature or of art, there being scarcely one of them that may not 

 be compared to some kind of insect ; for instance, Oncidium 

 papilio, the flower of which plant resembles a butterfly, and 

 produced on a thin gossamer-like stalk which waves about in 

 the air that one can hardly fancy it otherwise than a living 

 creature. Then there is the Pitcher-plant from New Holland 

 (Cephalotus follicularis), looking like some production of fanci- 

 ful art ; and there are other similar vegetable curiosities, some 

 flowers resembling the bee, the fly, the spider, and others are 

 ehaped like hoods, helmets, and slippers. Many of this highly 

 iuterpsting tribe of plants are here growing in almost every 

 possible situation — on blocks of wood, naked stones, on the 

 stems of a Tree Fern, and in other situations in which there is 

 little if any soil to support vegetable life. They seem to derive 

 their chief nourishment from the air. Happily, too, there is 

 not a mouth in the year that eome one or other is not in blossom, 

 though the spring sun induces the flowering in a very marked 

 degree. 



The Exhibition house is another large building containing a 

 Boiecellaneous collection varying according to the season of 

 the year, plants being removed and replaced by others as the 

 flowering Boafon passes. In this house thero is a high order 



of dotal beauty kept-up winter and summer. In the spring 

 bulbs take a prominent part, such as Hyacinths, Tulips, Nar- 

 cissuses, Cyclamens, and others. These are replaced by other 

 plants as the seaaon advances, and the house is thus rendered 

 attractive " all the year round." — N. Cole, Kensington. 



FRANCISCEAS. 

 TnE genus Franoiscea comprises some of the freest early 

 spring flowering and most easily cultivated of evergreen stove 

 shrubs. Moderate in growth, and not requiring a very high 

 temperature, they are readily accommodated in a cool stove. 

 The best of the genus is F. calycina major, of sturdy compact 

 spreading growth, having large deep green shining leaves, 

 large flat flowers 3 to 4 inches or more in diameter, of a 

 deep purple colour, borne iu terminal heads, each productive 

 of a large number of flowers suoceseionally produced, the 

 flowering enduring about a month. It usually commeucea 

 flowering in March, and seldom fails to flower again in late 

 summer. 



F. confertiflora (laurifolia) has very large terminal heads of 

 purple flowers, not so large individually as those of F. calycina 

 major, but more numerous, often twenty and more in a head, 

 the habit of the plant being more loose and freer, for whilst 

 the last-named will be a round-headed bush 2 feet high, F. oon- 

 fertifolia will be 3 to 4 feet in height. F. oonfertifolia varie- 

 gata, with its leaves very much variegated with creamy white, 

 though less pretentious than many stove variegated plants, is 

 very attractive, particularly when in flower. Both flower in 

 March or early April, and are very handsome. 



F. acuminata flowers a little later ; F. eximia, a very good 

 kind, with F. Lindeniana, pale purple, of erect habit, and 

 having long linear leaves, usually flower in April and May ; 

 and F. uuillora, which may bo said to have no fixed time of 

 flowering, but grows, flowers, rests awhile, again growing and 

 flowering. There are also F. latifolia, F. macrantha, and the 

 allied Brunsfelsia grandiflora and B. nitida. All are from the 

 West Indies and Brazils. 



Franoisceas produce their flowers upon the current year's 

 growth, and are terminal, appearing with and terminating the 

 young growth, therefore no stopping must be resorted to. If 

 due regard has been paid to pruning the young plants, so as to 

 have them well furnished to commence with, not much trim- 

 ming will be afterwards necessary. When the plants become 

 overgrown they may be out back early in February, keeping 

 rather dry until the plants break afresh, when more moisture 

 will bo needed ; and when the shoots are an inch long repot, 

 removing most of the old soil, keeping rather close, moist, and 

 shaded, and watering carefully until re-established. It is pre- 

 ferable to replace old worn specimens by young healthy plants 

 rather than to resuscitate the former. 



Plants flower very freely in a young state, and keep on for 

 a number of years increasing iu size and floral beauty, re- 

 quiring only a light and airy situation iu tho stove, with a 

 moist atmosphere and free watering when growing, and after 

 the leaves become firm in texture watering only to keep the 

 foliage from becoming limp. A temperature of 50" to 55' is 

 quite safe to winter them iu from October to February, when, 

 as growth will be taking place, they may then bo repotted, re- 

 moving most of the old soil or what comes away freely, return- 

 ing to the same or a little larger pot, providing good drainage, 

 and employing a compost of three parts turfy loam, with a 

 part old cow dung or leaf soil, adding some rather small 

 pieces of charcoal, about a sixth, and a like proportion of sand. 

 Pot moderately firm, and water carefully, sprinkling overhead 

 twioe daily, and sprinkling the floors, &o., thrice a day. 

 When growing freely water copiously until the growth is ma- 

 tured, and then sparingly. 



Instead of potting before flowering I prefer to top-dress the 

 plants, removing the surface soil down to the roots, replacing 

 it with some rich turfy loam and old cow dung in equal parts 

 supplementing with manure watering after the buds show. 



Potting iu this case is deferred until the blooming is past 



much the best time, only we have to shade for a time until 

 the potting is recovered from. The plants are kept syringed 

 twice daily through tho summer, and when iu flower syriuKing 

 does not injure the flowers, which is more than can be said of 

 many flowering plants. The temperature after February may 

 be 00° to 65" night until April, with 6° higher afterwards, and 

 the usual rise of 5' to 10" by day in dull weather, and 15° 

 to 20' or more with sun and air. Franoisceas may indeed be 

 grown well in an intermediate house. I know of no plants 



