HELICONIA. 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
203 
HEDYCHIUM. 
Among these stately herbaceous stove 
plants are some of the most beautiful and 
sweet-scented flowers we possess. They 
belong to the natural Order Zingiberacez, 
and grow to a height of from 3 feet to 6 
feet ; the flowers are produced in the form 
of large erect spikes from the apex of the 
shoots that are formed annually from 
strong fleshy crowns. They are strong- 
growing plants that require a considerable 
amount of pot-room, otherwise they do not 
acquire sufficient strength to flower well. 
They look best when grown to a size that 
will produce from three to half-a-dozen 
blooming stems yearly ; being remarkably 
free growers, they soon attain dimensions 
that enable them to do this, and it isan easy 
matter to confine them within such limits, 
as the plants will bear dividing annually if 
required. Their propagation is by division 
of the crowns, which is best effected early 
in spring before the young buds at the 
base begin -to move in the least. They 
should be turned out of their pots, and the 
roots so far as possible separated, retaining 
as many as may be to each of the old or 
preceding year’s shoots ; put these singly 
into 8-inch or 10-inch pots, according to 
the size and strength of the pieces. Good 
ordinary loam, to which a little rotten 
manure and some sand are added, answers 
best for them ; they should then be placed 
in a temperature of 60°. It is not well to 
hurry them by too much warmth im- 
mediately after division ; better let the 
roots have time to re-establish themselves 
before exciting top growth, or the shoots 
made the first summer will not be so likely 
to bloom. Give more warmth as the sea- 
son progresses, but it is not necessary to 
keep them very hot. We have found that 
although they will bear a high temperature 
they will do with less warmth than 
many things that come from the same 
countries. 
A cool stove or intermediate temperature 
will answer well for them. Give plenty of 
water when they begin to grow; this is 
necessary, for though their leaves would 
not flag like those of many plants if too 
dry, their growth would certainly suffer to 
some extent. They will succeed best with 
more air than the generality of stove sub- 
jects want, and they need no more shade 
than is found necessary to prevent the 
leaves being scorched. When the young 
growth has reached its full size the stems 
may be observed to thicken towards the 
top previous to the emission of the bloom- 
“spikes. The time of flowering is sooner or 
later during the summer, according to the 
heat they receive and the time growth 
begins. They will stand, while in bloom, 
in a conservatory or cool house, where they 
will look well in association with other 
plants. After flowering place them 
through the autumn and winter in a 
temperature of 55°; the old stems that 
have previously flowered may each year be 
cut away about the time the young growth 
approaches its full size ; up to this they 
assist the shoots that spring from their base. 
In the spring give pots 2 inches or 3 inches 
larger, removing some of the old soil and 
replacing it with new. The subsequent 
treatment needed will be to give more 
root-room as required, and when the plants 
have got as large as wanted, they can 
either be divided into single crowns in the 
way advised or simply cut in two. 
There are a good many kinds in cultiva- 
tion ; the undermentioned is a selection of 
the best :— 
H. angustifolium. A strong-growing 
species ; it bears handsome red flowers. 
East India. 
H. coronarium. 
yellow flowers 
East India. 
H. Gardnerianum grows to a height of 6 
feet ; flowers yellow, one of the best ; a 
native of East India. 
H. gracile. A dwarfer-habited sort than 
any of the preceding, bearing very hand- 
some white flowers. It wants a little more 
heat than most of the species. Found in 
Bengal. 
H. longifolium grows to a medium height 
and bears deep red flowers. From India. 
H. thyrsiforme. A beautiful white- 
flowered kind that grows to a medium 
height. This is from Nepal. 
InsEects.—Hedychiumsarelittle troubled 
with insects, their large smooth leaves not 
affording much harbour for them ; red 
spider sometimes affects them, but can 
easily be removed by syringing with clean 
water, Should they become affected with 
scale, sponging is the best remedy. 
A stately species, with 
and handsome foliage. 
HELICONIA. 
These are herbaceous stove plants, nearly 
related to the Musas, but have much the 
appearance of Dieffenbachias. They have 
bold, handsome foliage, and are very ef- 
fective among the fine-leaved section of 
plants, to which they belong. — Their 
cultivation is similar to that of Dieffen- 
bachias, which see. 
H. aureo-striata. This species has large 
ovate-cordate leaves, the ground colour of 
which is dark green, profusely covered 
with broken yellow lines running from the 
