56 ME. SCOTT ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE MANGO. 



ture during the growing season from 65° min. to 85° max., with 

 abundance of moisture. It is heated by hot water in pipes and 

 tanks, and as there is sufficient command of heat, air is admitted 

 freely in mild weather. The plants are wintered in a cool, 

 rather dry climate, varying from 50° or 55° min. to 60° or 65° 

 max. The soil we use for them is composed of about two parts 

 light turfy loam, and one part a mixture of peat sand and wood- 

 ashes. We use plenty of drainage, and the pots are not plunged 

 in anything. 



AYhat I consider of most importance in the above treatment, 

 is dwarfing tlie plants, to render them spreading and suitable for 

 training near the glass, and insuring healthy, vigorous growth 

 in summer, and a cool dry climate for the plants to rest in dur- 

 ing winter, or until the end of February or March. And owing 

 to imperfections in the Ijlossoms, I would recommend artificial 

 impregnation and a rather dry climate, during the time the plants 

 are in flower. 



My experience does not warrant me in stating whether or not 

 imported grafted plants can be depended on for healtiiy fruiting 

 plants, as no grafted plant has yet fruited in this country ; but 

 we know that the fine varieties may be increased by grafts, and 

 also by cuttings. 



As the best of the famous mangoes of Bombay are obtained 

 from grafted plants, no doubt but they will also succeed in this 

 country. 



VIII. — The Cultivation of the Starry Dysophyl, a Tropical 

 Annual. By Mr. T. Moore, gardener to the Earl of Auck- 

 land, Vice-President. 



[Two specimens were exhibited at the Society's Meeting, Dec. 2, 1 845, and 

 received a Silver Banksian Medal.] 



This is a beautiful little pale green annual, found in damp or 

 watery places in the East Indies. It has starry leaves like those 

 of Bedstraw, unbranched stems about afoot high, and cylindrical 

 feathery spikes of brilliant light purple. 



Its seeds are sown early in January, in a well-drained 48 sizeti 

 pot, in soil consisting of peat, loam, and sand in equal proportions, 

 sifted fine, and filling the pot to within half an inch of the top. 

 The soil is watered before being sown. The seed being very 

 small is not covered with soil, but is gently pressed down, a piece of 

 glass is laid flat on the top of tlie pot, anfl a pan is placed beneath 

 for future waterings ; it is then placed in heat at about 70 de- 

 grees. The seed comes up in about five or six weeks, when I 



