206 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
HIBISCUS, 
water, which will at once induce the plants 
to break freely from the greater portion of 
the last summer’s shoots, from the points 
of which before they extend far the flower- 
spikes will make their appearance. From 
this time liquid manure twice a week will 
be of considerable assistance. The syringe 
must now be used with caution, or it may 
cause the flower-buds to fall off. Do not 
keep the plants too hot while flowering, 
and when the blooming is over allow them 
to get sufficiently dry at the roots to cause 
the leaves to flag at intervals of a fortnight 
or so, after which they must be cut freely 
back, and at once turned out of the pots, 
removing half the old soil, and cutting in 
the roots freely. This, from its free- 
rooting character, the plant will bear as 
well as an Allamanda. They may be 
either returned to the same pots, or, if 
required to filla large space, transferred to 
others a size or two larger, after which 
encourage them to make plenty of growth 
during the summer, to stimulate which 
give manure-water once a week. Manage 
through the autumn and winter as before. 
_Again, when the spring flowering is over, 
repeat the cutting back and partial dis- 
rooting, with renewal of the soil. Should 
the plants be required to flower on trellises, 
all that is necessary is to take the shoots 
down from the position where they have 
been grown near the roof and to train them 
on the trellises before growth commences 
in the spring. After blooming cut back 
and repot, and place them where the 
shoots can be trained near the glass as 
previously. This Hexacentris is a plant 
so easily raised and so quickly grown toa 
considerable size, that it is not advisable to 
keep old specimens too long, younger 
examples being preferable. 
H. lutea has lighter-coloured flowers 
than H. mysorensis, to which it forms a 
suitable companion ; it requires the same 
treatment. Also from Mysore. 
Insects.—Hexacentris are somewhat 
subject to red spider if the syringe is used 
insufficiently, but if the plants are freely 
damped overhead every day during the 
growing season, as advised, this insect will 
have little chance of gaining a footing. If 
affected with mealy bug or scale, dip and 
wash in a strong solution of insecticide 
when the plants are cut back after 
flowering. 
HIBBERTIA. 
Most of the species of this genus are low 
growing evergreen shrubs, but a few are 
climbers, also evergreen, suitable for a 
greenhouse or conservatory, and are effec- 
tive when in bloom. 
They are distinct-looking plants, and 
cau be propagated and grown on in the 
way recommended for Kennedyas, which 
see. 
The undermentioned are climbers :— 
H. Cunninghamii. A yellow-flowered 
species that blooms in summer. From 
King George’s Sound. 
H. dentata. Also has yellow flowers, 
produced in summer. From New Holland. 
Hi. volubilis. Flowers yellow ; asummer 
bloomer. From the Cape of Good Hope. 
HIBISCUS. 
Those most suitable for growing in pots 
are the rosa sinensis section ; as they come 
from India and the South Sea Islands, 
they require a good deal of warmth. They 
are evergreen, and attain considerable 
height, but their free-blooming disposition, 
flowering as they do when not more than 
a few inches high in small pots, renders 
them desirable plants for indoor cultiva- 
tion, especially as they are easily propa- 
gated by means of cuttings. They also 
bear pruning well, breaking readily when 
freely cut back, and in this way they may 
be kept for some time within a pot of 
moderate size. The individual flowers of 
the single as well as the double, or, more 
properly speaking, semi-double varieties 
are very effective ; in shape they are not 
unlike those of a Petunia, but much larger. 
The time of flowering differs considerably 
according to the manner in which they are 
treated, but they usually bloom through 
the summer and autumn months. 
Propagation is effected by means of cut- 
tings, which, as we have said, strike readily 
in sufficient heat at any time when bits of 
half-ripened wood can be obtained. The 
most suitable shoots for rooting quickly 
can be got from plants that have been cut’ 
back about the close of the year, and after- 
wards kept in a temperature of 65° by 
night, and correspondingly warmer in the 
daytime. Thus treated they break freely. 
When the shoots are about 4 inches long 
they should be taken off with a heel and 
placed singly in small pots, half filled with 
sandy soil, the upper portion consisting 
wholly of sand. They should then be 
placed in a frame or under propagating 
glasses, where they can be kept close and 
moderately moist, conditions under which 
they will root in a few weeks. As soon as 
they are well furnished with roots, move 
them into 4-inch or 6-inch pots ; they will 
succeed in either peat or loam, but, as with 
most free-growing subjects of a similar 
character, we prefer loam where it can be 
had of a good, turfy character, as in it 
