76 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
BORONIA, 
part of sand, according to the description 
of the peat, which for plants, say in 6-inch 
pots, should be broken in pieces about the 
size of broad Beans, and well-mixed with 
the sand. 
All the Boronias can be propagated from 
cuttings made of the points of the shoots 
about two or three inches long, taken off 
in August when the growth is about three 
parts matured; put them an inch or two 
apart in 5 or 6 inch pots filled with sand, 
and keep them covered, moist, and shaded 
in an intermediate temperature ; in this 
way they will root in a couple of months, 
when gradually remove the glasses, and 
keep them through the winter at about 45° 
in the night. Move singly early in the 
spring into 2 or 3 inch pots, according to 
the strength of the species, using good peat 
broken fine, with sand as requisite to keep 
it open. Pinch out the points of the shoots 
at the time of potting, and keep them a 
little warmer and closer through the spring 
and summer than larger greenhouse stock 
require to be. The stronger growing sorts 
will most likely bear moving into pots two 
inches larger by the middle of July. In 
very hot weather keep the material on 
which they stand a little moist ; let them 
have plenty of light, but shade slightly all 
through the summer when the sun is 
powerful, stopping the strongest shoots 
when necessary. Give more air in autumn, 
and winter as before. 
If the plants show signs of growth by the 
middle of March, move them into pots 2 or 
3 inches larger, according to the amount of 
roots they are found to have; and give 
ample drainage, so as to ensure the soil 
continuing sweet. Pot firmly, tying the 
branches well out at the same time, as the 
sticks can now be put into the new soil 
without coming in contact with roots. 
After potting, place them in a house or pit 
where they can receive a night temperature 
of 45°, and give no side air for some three or 
four weeks. Keep the stage on which they 
stand sprinkled with water in bright 
weather ; but if potted at this early season 
they will not require shading, as their 
small leaves do not lose so much by evapo- 
ration as plants with more ample foliage. 
If the plants take freely to the new soil 
they will make good growth, and by the 
middle of May will require the points of 
any shoots that are taking the lead to be 
pinched out. Do not deter this operation 
too long, for it necessitates such shoots 
being shortened back further, which is 
simply a waste of strength. Treat as last 
summer until the beginning of August, after 
which discontinue the closing and syring- 
ing, leaving the top air on all night. At 
the middle of the month tun them out 
of doors for a time to ripen their growth. 
They are plants much subject to mildew, 
and, unless they receive this open-air treat- 
ment, will be difficult to manage through 
the winter. This exposure to the open air 
applies to all the varieties except B. 
serrulata, which should never be fully ex- 
posed, as its foliage is liable to burn and 
turn yellow if so treated. By the middle 
of September remove the plants to their 
winter quarters, which should be in a good 
light house near the glass, with a similar 
temperature to that before recommended. 
Give less water during the short days and 
comparative rest of the plants, but they 
must never be allowed to get too dry, or 
their leaves will suffer. Repot again about 
the same time as recommended the first 
season, using soil of similar description, but 
not so finely broken. If the plants have 
made plenty of roots, give them pots 4 
inches larger ; treat them as to air, the use 
of the syringe, and the early closing of the 
house, as recommended for last year in 
every way. Stop any shoots running away 
too vigorously, and tie well out, keeping 
the more vigorous branches well to the 
outside of the plants, which will go far- 
towards balancing any over-strong growth. 
Give them a few weeks’ exposure in the 
open air before transferring them to their 
winter quarters in the middle of September. 
By the following spring they will be nice 
young specimens, and be useful for con- 
servatory decoration. They should there 
be placed where they will receive as much 
light as possible, and not be too much 
crowded with other things. After flower- 
ing give them another pot 2 inches larger, 
and they will then for a short time require 
a little shade, consequent upon this potting 
being later in the season. Treat in other 
respects as in the summer before. By the 
autumn the plants, if all is well, will be 
handsome half specimens, and after bloom- 
ing the following spring will require 
another shift. They do not require cutting 
back, neither do they well bear the opera- 
tion, but care in training obviates any 
necessity for using the knife. 
‘The following varieties are distinct, and 
worthy of a place in any collection :— 
B. Diummondii. A slender - growing 
plant, and a free bloomer. 
B. elatior, A newer and _ beautiful 
species, with bright reddish-crimson flowers, 
produced in the greatest profusion, and 
very enduring. q 
B. megastigma. A very distinct kind. 
The flowers are brownish-purple outside, 
and yellow within ; powerfully but agree- 
ably perfumed. 
