Jme 19, 187S. ] 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 



489 



It is well known that sncculeuts will flourish in a very small 

 amonut of soil, and that of the poorest ilescriptiou, and this 

 peculiarity must be borne in mind in the cultivation of the 

 Grammanthes. It requires to be sown in spring, in pots of 

 sandy soU, and placed in a moderate hotbed imtil the young 

 plants are an inch or two high, when, if very thickly placed, 

 they may be transferred to wider pots, but otherwise they 

 may remain in the seed-pot untU the weather is suiliciently 

 mild to permit of their removal to the borders. From their 

 limited growth, single specimens of the plant produce but 

 little effect ; it is therefore advisable to plant them in patches 

 as large as the supply of plants will admit of, ami where the 

 soU is not sandy it must be removed to the depth of 3 or 

 4 inches, its place being suppUed by the poorest material that 

 can be obtained. As a further precaution against excess of 

 moisture, a thin tile may ba placed beneath this stratum of 

 earth, and the surface of the ground covered with small 

 pebbles. The plant is, however, better suited to the rockery 

 than for the border, as in wet seasons it is liable to rot, not- 

 withstanding any precaution that may be taken. 



Grammanthes gentianoides. 



It must be remembered, that in the dry climate of the Cape 

 but little rain falls during several months of the year, and 

 that the aridity both of the atmosphere and soil is further 

 augmented by a temperature considerably higher than that 

 we enjoy in this country. Upon rockwork tho plant is cer- 

 tainly less exposed to the evils arising from a rich soil ; but the 

 atmospheric humidity not uncommon with us even in the 

 summer season, is not so easily guarded against. Tho nearest 

 approximation to the native cUmate of the Grammanthes 

 would, perhaps, be found in the greenhouse or a warm south 

 window, where we have found it succeed very well ; in any 

 case, however, the blossoms wUl only expand in bright weather. 

 Their tint varies considerably in depth, even on the same 

 plant ; those which have been the longest expanded are gene- 

 rally much darker, and there is a variety with paler flowers. 



We believe the present species to be identical with one pub- 

 lished under the name of chlortefolia, for the supposed differ- 

 ences are quite inappreciable. The old Crassula retroflexa is 

 now added to this genus. 



The least attentive observer cannot fail to be struck, in a 

 turvey of the vegetable kingdom, with the wonderful adapta- 

 siou of the various organs of the different tribes of plants to 

 the situations in which they are usually found. 



If we at this time confine our observations to the leaves of 

 plants, we find that those species which are natives of moist 

 climates or boUs, and which consequently imbibe by theii- 

 roots a considerable amount of fluid, are furnished with leaves, 

 the cuticle of which is set with innumerable pores or stomata 

 — as they are termed in botanical parlance — through which the 

 redundant juices of the plant are exhaled into the atmosphere , 

 whence they were originally derived ; whilst in those plants 



which are parasitical, like the Mistletoe, or which are natives of 

 the saudy districts of warm climates, as in tho case of many 

 of those comprised in the orders Crassulacea) and Cactaceffi, 

 these breathing apertures are in direct proportion to the small 

 volume of root-nutriment absorbed by the plant, and are 

 therefore few in number. Of these plants Lindley has well 

 observed, that " soil is to them a something to keep them 

 stationary, rather than a source of nutriment," which is ob- 

 tained chiefly from the surrounding atmosphere ; for not only 

 does the peculiar structure of their cuticle enable them to 

 retain for a lengthened period their fluid contents, but they 

 appear to possess the faculty of absorbing, through its agency, 

 the heavy dews by which, in tropical climates, the absence oJ 

 the rain of more temperate regions is suppHed. — (W. Thomp- 

 son's English Flower Garden.) 



GLOKIOSAS. 



■What more beautiful plants than these can be had for the 

 decoration of pillars and rafters of the stove or intermediate 

 house during the summer and early autumn months ? and yet 

 they are very rarely to be found in either large or small gar- 

 dens throughout the country. This arises in some instances 

 from utter ignorance, not only of tho beauty of the various 

 kinds, but from total ignorance of their existence ; on the 

 other hand, I have found both amateurs and gardeners shrink 

 from attempting their culture, beheving them to be diflicult to 

 grow and shy to bloom. This is a state of things which should 

 not ejdst, and therefore, for the benefit of those of my readeia 

 who are labouring under tho latter impression, allow me to 

 say that my own experience with these plants has proved them 

 neither difficult to grow nor shy to flower, but that a fine dis- 

 play may be obtained from them with ordinary care. 



I am quite at a loss to understand why these plants have 

 been so thoroughly neglected by gardeners, for not only are 

 they beautiful objects for home decoration, but when trained 

 upon a wire balloon-shaped trellis they produce a magnificent 

 effect upon the exhibition table, and therefore they cannot be 

 considered suitable for a certain class alone, but may be grown 

 and prove equally useful in the largo as in the small garden. 



The finger-like tubers of these plants have a central crown ^^ 

 which should be examined as to its soundness before potting in 

 the blooming pot, when, if perfect, they shoiHd be placed, either 

 in pairs or singly, 2 or 3 inches below the surface of the soil, with 

 the crown uppermost. I am particular in saying the bloom- 

 ing pots, for this system I have found by experience much the 

 best, because when first placed in small pots and subjected to 

 several shifts, some injury would invariably accrue, theh' scan- 

 dent stems and tendril-bearing leaves being extremely incon- 

 venient to the operator, and peculiarly liable to damage. I 

 have, therefore, adopted the method of planting in large pots 

 at the first potting, and have been very successful with them 

 under this treatment. The blooming pots for Gloriosas shoul(J 

 be about 13 inches in diameter. These, if properly drained, 

 will be sufficiently large, and the soil will not become sour or 

 stagnant during the whole season. For compost use one part 

 good turfy loam, one part of fibrous peat, one of good rough 

 leaf mould well decayed, and one of well-decomposed manure. 

 Add to this one part of silver or sharp river sand, and then 

 thoroughly mix, but on no account let a sieve be brought into 

 use, for nothing is so baneful in the hands of the amateur as 

 a sieve to make the soil fine. 



After potting, the tubers should be started in gentle bottom 

 heat, but when the growths are some 18 inches long this, if 

 inconvenient, may be dispensed with ; they may then be placed 

 upon the pillar or rafter, or upon a wire trellis if this style of 

 culture has been determined upon. If a stock of these tubera 

 is in hand, it will be preferable to keep some of them back 

 until April and May, when a succession of grand flowers will 

 be obtained for several months. During the growing season 

 Gloriosas enjoy liberal suppUes of water at then- roots, and an 

 occasional appUoation of weak liquid manure will be found 

 very beneficial ; but the syringe, although used frequently, 

 must be handled carefully, and the water discharged from it 

 hghtly, otherwise the leaves will be much bruised and broken, 

 and thus the general appearance of the plants damaged. 



The blooming season past, water must be gradually withheld, 

 but do not entirely cease to water them until the stems have 

 completely decayed, for if the tubers are prematurely put to 

 rest their strength will be deteriorated, and the quality and 

 quantity of the flowers the next season will be correspondingly 

 less. 



