THE PRODUCTION OF BLOOM IN INGA PULCHEKKIMA. 35 



well adapted for small and select collections. To bloom it well 

 it requires to be restricted in growth ; it thrives in ordinary mix- 

 tures of soil— M'ill endure opposite extremes of temperature, and 

 its elegantly-winged leaves, and extremely rich pendent clusters 

 of crimson tassel-like flowers, render its possession much to be 

 desired. Indeed, than this, few plants possess stronger claims 

 to attention. 



As one of a class of plants, therefore, whose natural habits of 

 growth are unfavourable to a general formation of flower-buds, 

 and as all attempts hitherto to obtain such by ordinary culture 

 have proved unavailing, the cause of its infertility, as well as that 

 of plants generally, affords a suitable subject for inquiry. 



The principal cause to which a failure in tiie production of 

 flowers is to be assigned, is unmatured growth ; but as this 

 defect is not solely the result of deficient exposure to light, air, 

 heat, &c., tlie remaining conditions will be noticed hereafter. 

 It may, however, be observed, that of those plants wherein the 

 greatest ditficulty exists in obtaining bloom, the ultimate success 

 has been in proportion to a judicious limitation of the annual 

 growth, and the attention paid to a cessation from growth, which 

 should be vax'ied to suit the character of the species — especially 

 in deciduous plants. 



Inga pulcherrima is a ligneous or hard-wooded semi-deci- 

 duous stove-shrub, producing comparatively small and slender 

 lateral growths or side branches. A gross and luxuriant habit 

 of growth is unfavourable to fertility ; but the plant in question 

 is strongly marked by the opposite condition. The following 

 treatment will result in obtaining a good display of bloom : — 



In common with other plants of similar nature, about equal 

 parts friable sandy loam (from well-decayed turf) and heath- 

 mould, witli tolerable free bottom-drainage, will be found most 

 suitable. In the stove it may be exposed to from 60° to 75° 

 of summer temperature. If potted liberally with regard to 

 its amount of soil at each potting, the operation should not be 

 repeated beyond once in two or three years ; and from its par- 

 tially deciduous habit, a vigorous growth should be encouraged 

 during the early summer months, supplying the plant with weak 

 liquid manure, in the proportion of one gallon to four of pure 

 water, twice each week, for a month, during its most vigorous 

 period of growth. When the current year's shoots have attained 

 from 8 to 14 inches in length, and their wood appears to have 

 become firm, their progress should be checked by pinching off 

 the extreme top bud of each, and in about a fortnight's time the 

 shoots shoidd be permanently shortened by cutting back each 

 shoot, two, three, or four joints, for tlie purpose of maturing the 

 lower onesj and enabling the remaining growth to assimilate the 



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