MEYENIA ERECTA. 
necessity for stopping, except in the case of 
any shoots that are taking the lead too 
much, Raise the temperature as solar 
heat increases, and keep the plants up near 
the glass, and in syringing see that the 
water regularly reaches the whole of both 
the upper and under surface of the leaves. 
Shade as before during the brightest por- 
tion of the day, and give the necessary 
support by sticks and ties to the branches, 
without which sometimes the weight of 
water in syringing will cause them to split 
off. Treat as in the preceding summer, 
dispensing with shade and syringing, as 
the sun’s power begins to wane, and give 
less air. 
Winter as before, giving no more water 
at the root than is requisite to keep the 
leaves plump. This dry condition of the 
soil is necessary to the free production of 
flowers, but it must not be carried so far 
as to cause the leaves to flag, or they will 
fall off prematurely. Again raise the 
temperature in spring, when the first 
efforts will be directed to the formation of 
flowers, which will make their appearance 
at the points of the branches. Whilst 
these are in course of development too 
much atmospheric moisture should be 
avoided, and it is not advisable to syringe 
them overhead, as any excess in this way 
frequently leads to the blooms falling off 
before they expand. The flowers will last 
for two or three weeks, during which time 
they have a grand appearance. After 
blooming any strong growths may be cut 
back, and as soon as shoot growth com- 
mences another shift of 2 inches or 3 inches 
should be given, getting away some of the 
-old soil from the upper portion of the ball 
as far as it can be done without disturbance 
of the roots. Treat them generally as re- 
commended during the preceding summer, 
giving manure-water once a week ; their 
winter management should also be the 
same as before. It frequently happens 
that plants in the second and subsequent 
years of flowering bloom more profusely 
than during the first, as, in addition to the 
bunches at the points of the shoots, quanti- 
ties of flowers are often emitted from the 
hard wood of the branches or main stem, 
in which state they have a most singular, 
yet beautiful appearance. Medinillas may 
be retained for years, so as to occupy a 
moderate space, by having their branches 
shortened freely after flowering, and in 
potting shaking out a portion of the old 
soil and replacing with new material, 
supplying the requirements of the roots by 
the liberal use of manure-water in place of 
giving them inconveniently large pots. 
M. amabilis is a native of Java, and may 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
249 
be said to be almost an exact counterpart 
of the following better-known kind, except 
that the panicles are borne perfectly erect 
instead of pendulous. Though thus nearly 
alike, the contrast between the plants when 
in flower side by side is most remarkable, 
each enhancing the beauty of the other. 
M. magnifica, a native of Java, is a 
magnificent species. Its leaves measure 
from 10 inches to 12 inches long, and 7 
inches or 8 inches broad. The flowers, 
which are produced in large, drooping, 
branching panicles, are of a rosy-pink 
colour, and the unopened buds are of the 
same shade, and are almost as handsome in 
the advancing stages as when expanded. 
M. Steboldir, from Moulmein, is a hand- 
some plant, but inferior to both the above. 
It has rosy-white flowers. 
Insects.—All the species of Medinilla 
are somewhat liable to the attacks of red 
spider, unless the syringing recommended 
in their cultivation is regularly attended 
to. Mealy bug and brown scale will also 
live upon them ; for these, sponging the 
leaves and a strong application of insecti- 
cide in the case of old plants that, in cut- 
ting back, have been denuded of their 
foliage, will be found the most effectual 
remedy. 
METROSIDEROS. 
These are evergreen greenhouse shrubs, 
naturally somewhat straggling in growth, 
and are most suitable for a large house, 
such as a winter garden where there is 
room to accommodate a large collection of 
plants ; but, where space is limited, they 
are not sufficiently attractive to deserve a 
place. 
The method of propagation and after 
treatment is similar to that advised for 
Myrtles, which see. 
M. ciliata. Flowers crimson ; a summer 
bloomer. From New Caledonia. 
M. floribunda. Bright crimson flowers, 
borne in whorls towards the extremities of 
the shoots. New Zealand. 
M. florida. Has scarlet flowers, pro- 
duced in summer. <A native of New 
Zealand. 
MEYENIA ERECTA. 
There are two forms of this stove 
Acanthad, one bearing purple flowers with 
a vellow throat, the other white, but not 
differing in other respects either in appear- 
ance or in matters of cultivation. They 
are erect evergreen shrubs that attain a 
small or medium size; they are very 
nearly allied to Thunbergias, and the 
flowers of both are much alike. They are 
