. Sener. 
or \ 
“* PRANCOA, 
“Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
179 
condition of the plants and the size and 
strength of the species grown. From this 
time forward they will not need much, if 
any, stopping, except in the case of such as 
have bloomed early in the spring, and in 
other respects they should be managed as 
in the past season. If kept free from in- 
sects and fairly treated they will last for a 
number of years, assisted during the grow- 
ing season with a regular supply of manure- 
water. When they get into pots as large 
as it is desirable to put them, and the soil 
in these is exhausted, they may be headed 
back to half their size, and, when they 
have broken, be turned out of the pots, 
have the old soil removed, and placed in 
smaller ones. Thus treated, they can be 
furnished with strong flowering shoots, 
even superior to what they possessed in the 
early stages of their existence. 
The undermentioned sorts are all de- 
serving of cultivation :— 
F. acuminata. An old, but handsome 
kind, distinct in appearance. The flowers 
are purple. <A native of Rio de Janeiro. 
F. confertiflora. A free, dense-growing 
species, one of the finest exhibition plants 
in existence, and suitable for conservatory 
decoration, the deep purple colour har- 
monising well with that of almost any 
other flower. It comes from Brazil. 
F. confertiflora variegata. A form of the 
preceding, with leaves prettily variegated 
with white. The flowers are in no way 
different from those of the original species. 
F. calysina mayor. This is a large- 
flowering, strong-wooded kind, with ample 
leaves and very large deep-coloured flowers; 
the latter are not produced in such numbers 
as in the case of F. confertiflora, but, never- 
theless, it is a splendid sort. From Brazil. 
F. eximia. A somewhat erect-habited 
plant of moderate growth, producing large 
heads of purple flowers. Also a native of 
Brazil. 
FF’, Hopeana (uniflora). A small-growing 
species that produces its flowers freely 
from short spurs up the branches, as well 
as from the points of the shoots and axils 
of the leaves. The colour is pale purple or 
lilac, changing to white. Brazil. 
F. Lindenwi. A smallish-growing species, 
with dull-coloured leaves and very bright 
purplish flowers. A very desirable plant 
for general decorative purposes, not so well 
known or so extensively grown as it de- 
serves to be. Brazil. 
Insects.—Thrips, red spider, and green- 
fly will sometimes make their appearance 
upon Francisceas, but, from the repeated 
_use.of the syringe. during. the. growing 
season, they do not often become very 
troublesome. Copious syringing and fumi- 
gation will be found sufficient to destroy 
these pests. Should mealy bug and scale 
appear they should have no quarter, or 
they will, if allowed to get numerous, re- 
duce the plants to a condition that pre- 
cludes the possibility of their flowering 
satisfactorily. They must be diligently 
sought after during the growing season, 
and the sponge and a soft brush used for 
their destruction, and when the plants are 
at rest give repeated washings, syringings, 
and dippings with some insecticide. 
FRANCOA. 
These are herbaceous plants, natives of 
Chili ; they are nearly hardy, and do well 
in a cool greenhouse. Although they have 
been long known in this country, they are 
not so numerous as their merits entitle 
them to be. F. ramosa is particularly 
valuable, for where a sufficient quantity of 
this kind is grown to admit of its being 
freely used, its tall, slender flower-stems 
produce a telling effect. Francoas are pro- 
pagated from seeds. They can be sown at 
different times, from February to mid- 
summer, but the earlier period will usually 
be found the best, as then the seedlings 
have all the season before them to attain 
strength: the seed should be sown in a 
‘well-drained pan filled with sifted peat, 
to which enough sand has been added to 
keep it open. Press the soil down smooth, 
do not sow the seeds too thickly, and only 
just cover them with a little of the finest 
soil. Before sowing see that the material 
is moist enough without being too wet. 
Put a sheet of glass over the top—this will 
keep the surface damp and so prevent the 
necessity for giving much water until the 
seeds have vegetated ; stand the pan in a 
temperature of 50°, which will be quite 
warm enough. As soon as the seedlings 
make their appearance dispense with the 
glass over the pan, give water as required, 
and stand the plants where they will get a 
fair amount of light. | When they are big 
enough to handle prick them out 2 inches 
apart in large pans of well-prepared soil— 
either peat or good loam will answer; if 
the latter is used add as well as some sand 
one-sixth of leaf-mould. They will get on 
faster for a time this way in pans than if 
put at once into little pots, on account of 
the soil being more easily kept in right 
condition as to water. By the end of May 
remove them to a greenhouse, or frame, 
keeping them moderately moist, and giving 
air daily. Before the leaves get crowded 
put the little plants singly into 4 or 5 inch 
pots, and encourage them to make growth. 
Some of the strongest will most likely 
