HIBISCUS. 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
207 
strong-growing plants almost invariably 
evince a disposition to produce flowers 
more freely with less wood-growth than 
when cultivated in peat. Increase the 
heat of the house or pit in which they are 
placed as the days lengthen, and give them 
plenty of light with. air in proportion to 
the temperature and state of the weather ; 
use a little shade in the middle of the day 
and syringe freely overhead in the after- 
noons. When the young plants have fairly 
started into growth, pinch out the points 
to induce them to break back. Through 
the season they require nothing different 
from the general occupants of a warm stove. 
Even this first season many of them may 
be expected to produce flowers, and when 
standing as in this state they ought to be 
on the side stages of the stove, they form 
conspicuous objects. 
After the blooming is over shorten them 
back a little, and as soon as they have 
broken, shift them into pots 3 inches or 
4 inches larger than those they have been 
in, using soil similar to that just named, 
with sufficient sand added to keep it ina 
healthy open condition. Through the 
autumn months subject them to drier 
treatment, both as regards the atmosphere 
and soil ; winter in a temperature of 60° 
by night, or a few degrees higher will suit 
them better. Their management during 
the ensuing spring and summer will require 
to be such as recommended for the preced- 
ing year, except that no stopping should 
be attempted except with the view of in- 
ducing a portion of the plants to bloom 
later. After they have again flowered, the 
shoots should be shortened back more or 
less, according to the size to which the 
plants are to be grown; but there is no 
state in which they are more useful than 
when confined to small pots. <A sufficient 
stock should be propagated yearly, and the 
plants may be discarded after their third 
season’s blooming. Where it is desirable 
to grow them on longer, after they have 
fairly broken they should be turned out 
of’ their pots, as much of the surface soil 
should be removed as can be done without 
disturbing the roots in a way likely to 
injure the foliage, and they should be re- 
potted in soil similar to that in which they 
have been grown ; the size of pot should 
be determined by the size which the plants 
are desired to attain. They are free 
rooters, and will-bear a shift of 8 inches or 
10 inches without any danger of the soil 
becoming sour. The larger the plants the 
greater quantity of flowers will they pro- 
duce ; and in this way, with additional 
root-room, they may be increased in size 
tor several years. Where space is limited, 
they can be kept in a healthy condition 
with their roots somewhat restricted, this 
confinement being compensated for by the 
frequent use of manure-water during the 
growing season. 
There are numbers of species and 
varieties known to cultivators ; the follow- 
ing are a selection of the most noteworthy ; 
amongst them are several of the H. Rosa 
sinensis varieties, which are the most effec- 
tive for ordinary cultivation :— 
H. Cameroni. This is a shrubby-habited 
plant from Madagascar ; it is a tall grower. 
The flowers are straw-coloured, with purple 
spots. 
H. marmoratus. A small-flowered species. 
The flowers are white, spotted with rose. 
A native of Mexico. 
H. Rosa sinensis brilliantissimus. Has 
large-sized reddish-scarlet flowers, deeper 
coloured towards the lower part of the 
petals. 
H. Rosa sinensis Collerii. A particularly 
free-blooming sort, with yellow or buff 
flowers, the lower portion of the petals red. 
From the South Sea Islands. 
H. Rosa sinensis Dennisonit. <A close, 
dense-growing kind, with creamy-white 
flowers of large size. A fine sort. 
H. Rosa sinensis miniatus semi-plenus. 
This plant has handsome stout fohage and 
bears freely its large semi-double flowers, 
which are vermilion-scarlet in colour; the 
petals are elegantly waved in their outer 
edge, and not unlike a double Petunia ; 
the stamens, which protrude between the 
petals, enhance the appearance of the 
flowers. South Sea Islands. 
H. Rosa sinensis schizopetalus. Is a most 
singular and distinct-looking plant from 
Tropical Africa. The flowers are drooping, 
suspended on long stalks ; the petals, few 
in number, are deeply pinnatifid ; the 
flowers are red. It has a most elegant 
effect when in bloom. 
H. Rosa sinensis zebrinus. The individual 
flowers of this sort are smaller than those 
of most of the other kinds ; they are quite 
double, and the back petals are red, edged 
with yellow. A distinct and handsome 
sort. 
Iysects.—Like most plants that require 
a high temperature, Hibiscus are subject 
to the attacks of insects ; the leaves especi- 
ally, if the plants are allowed to want for 
water either at the root or overhead, are 
liable to suffer from red spider, but if the 
syringe is regularly used and sufficient care 
taken that the water effectually reaches 
the undersides of the foliage, this trouble- 
some little parasite cannot get a footing. 
Where it happens to exist, we have found 
the pest remedy to be a weak solution of 
