BORONIA. 
obtainable in a good light house under the 
full influence of the sun. 
They increase freely from seed sown in 
the early spring, and treated in the ordinary 
way, with moderate heat and moisture. 
The seeds, however, except when imported, 
are seldom within reach of ordinary culti- 
vators, as the plants rarely flower in this 
country, and seeding is uncertain, even when 
they do flower. Consequently in begin- 
ning their cultivation itis better to procure 
young plants from those who deal in stock 
of this description. They are easily grown, 
requiring comparatively little beyond the 
ordinary attention in giving water and air 
in accordance with the active or non-active 
condition of growth that they may be in. 
Assuming that the plants are small when 
obtained, and require more root-room, in 
the spring give them pots 2 or 8 inches 
larger, one-fifth filled with drainage 
material. The soil should be loam of a 
good description, to which is added a mode- 
rate sprinkling of broken crocks and sand. 
Pot firm, and encourage growth through 
the spring and summer with an inter- 
mediate temperature, if such is at com- 
mand ; if not, give them the warmest place 
in a greenhouse, or, still better, in a pit 
close to the glass, in company with other 
plants that will also be benefited by shut- 
ting off the air early in the afternoon. By 
these means the slow growth of the plants 
will be accelerated. Give sufficient water 
while the season of growth continues, to 
keep the soil in a fairly moist state, but 
not too wet. An occasional sprinkling 
overhead while active growth is in progress 
will assist them. Keep the soil drier 
through the winter, treating as to tempera- 
ture as already indicated. Beyond this, 
all that will be required is to give larger 
pots as needed, according to the progress 
that the plants make. They will go on 
increasing in size for many years, with a 
consequent improvement in their appear- 
ance. They are very suitable for standing 
in a prominent position in a conservatory, 
which, if kept, as such structures often are, 
a little warmer than an ordinary green- 
house, will answer well for them con- 
tinuously. When the plants get old, if 
well managed so as to attain strength pro- 
portionate, they will flower, but, this is a 
consummation by no means to be desired, 
as after this, if they do not die down alto- 
gether like most species of a kindred 
nature and habit, their symmetrical appear- 
ance is injured. When a plant happens to 
flower, the blooming sometimes causes the 
production of young offshoots from the 
stem. These, if allowed to remain until they 
have got strength enough, and then taken 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
75 
off and inserted singly in small pots in soil 
of a like description to that advised for 
established plants, and treated in the way 
of ordinary suckers as to keeping mode- 
rately warm and close, but not too moist, 
will root and make plants which will re- 
quire to be managed subsequently as 
recommended for established plants in the 
early stages of growth. 
B. juncea. Has smooth, bright-green, 
almost cylindrical leaves, half-an-inch in 
diameter a little above the base, tapering 
gradually towards the extremities, and 
ending in a sharp point; they droop 
straight down so as to cling close to the 
stem in a dense mass, and are long- 
enduring. 
B. juncea filamentosa. A very distinct 
form of the above, the leaves of which 
throw off a profusion of long filament-like 
threads, white in colour, giving the whole 
plant a singular and interesting appear- 
ance. 
‘InsEcts.—Bonaparteas are little troubled 
with insects. Scale may possibly attack 
them, and can best be removed by sponging. 
BORONIA. 
These plants, which are indigenous to 
New Holland and New South Wales, are 
evergreen greenhouse shrubs of small or 
moderate growth, flower most profusely, and 
continue in bloom for a very long time. 
When in good robust health some of the 
kinds will frequently begin to open their 
flowers in January and February, and re- 
main without interruption for three or four 
months clothed with their small shell-like 
pinkish-lilaec and red blossoms. The 
general appearance of the plants in or out 
of flower is pleasing, they being devoid of 
that stiff upright habit which many hard- 
wooded shrubs possess. They are also less 
liable to get in bad condition at the roots 
than many greenhouse plants, and with 
good treatment are moderately fast growers, 
continuing to flower freely and regularly 
for a number of years. They are alike 
suitable for exhibition and for home deco- 
ration. Being free rooters, in their early 
stages they should never be allowed to 
suffer for pot-room, for if they do it is a 
difficult matter to get them to move freely 
afterwards. They are usually grafted, but 
will do equally well on their own roots, 
although many growers prefer grafted 
plants ; we have had them both ways, but 
never could see sufficient difference to 
warrant preference. They succeed best in 
good peat, not necessarily as fibrous as 
that required by some more delicate- 
rooted plants; use one sixth or seventh 
