SWAINSONA, 
attained a considerable size they can be 
divided from the parent plant—during the 
spring or summer, so as to get established 
before winter—and put in separate pots, 
drained and filled with good fibrous loam 
with which some sand has been mixed. The 
pots used should be such as will suffice to 
hold the considerable quantity of roots 
which the suckers ought to have before 
their removal from the plants that have 
produced them. Pot firmly, and stand them 
where they will get some warmth that will 
assist their making new roots ; the thick 
leathery texture of the leaves is such that 
no shade is required, not even when the 
sun is most powerful. All that is needed 
to grow them well is to give sufficient air, 
with water as they want it, and enough 
pot-room proportionate to the size of the 
plants, for they may be either kept to 
single crowns or allowed to remain entire 
until a number are formed, but for most 
purposes medium-sized examples, such as 
those composed of three or four crowns 
each, will be found the most desirable. 
Large specimens can be divided into por- 
tions varying in size to meet the require- 
ments of the cultivator, all that is necessary 
being that when the division is effected the 
several pieces should, as soon as potted, be 
placed where there is warmth enough to set 
them growing immediately, otherwise the 
roots they already possess are liable to rot. 
Insrcts.—The natural consistency of the 
plants, stems, and leaves combined, is such 
as to offer little attraction to insects, though 
aphides often establish themselves on the 
young leaves ; they can be easily removed 
by sponging or fumigation; if affected 
with scale sponging is the best remedy. 
STREPTOCARPUS. 
Herbaceous perennial Gesnerads that 
thrive under cool stove treatment. The 
best known is 8. Rexii, often grown under 
the name of Didymocarpus Rexii. They 
bloom over a lengthened period through 
the summer and autumn. Few plants are 
so easily managed ; they can be raised from 
seed sown in the spring in moderate heat, 
potted and grown through the season under 
the usual conditions of air and root mois- 
ture, with plenty of light and alittle shade 
in sunny weather. They do well in turfy 
loam with a little leaf-mould and sand 
added; plants such as can be grown in 
6 or 8 inch pots will usually be found 
more useful than larger examples. They 
can also be increased by division of the 
crowns, which should be effected in spring 
just as growth is about to commence ; treat 
them afterwards like the seedlings. 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants 
323 
S. polyanthus. A pretty blue-flowered 
kind that blooms in the summer. A native 
of Natal. 
S. Rexit. An abundant bloomer, the 
flowers are slate-blue in colour. It comes 
from the Cape of Good Hope. 
S. Saundersiz. A singular-habited species, 
with pale purple flowers produced freely. 
A summer bloomer. From Natal. 
InsEcrs.—Aphides are often trouble- 
some on these plants, getting to the under- 
sides of the leaves and on the flowers ; 
fumigating is the best means for their de- 
struction. 
STYPHELIA. 
Low - growing evergreen shrubs that 
bloom in summer ; not equal to many of 
similar character. They are not much 
cultivated at the present time. 
They will thrive under treatment such 
as advised for Epacris, which see. 
: ay undermentioned are the most desir- 
able :— 
S. epacriotdes. Has crimson flowers, pro- 
duced in summer. From New Holland. 
S. latefolia. Flowers pink, blooms early 
in summer. From New Holland. 
S. tubiflora. Flowers scarlet, blooms in 
summer. A native of New South Wales. 
SWAINSONA. 
These handsome flowering evergreen 
greenhouse plants are natives of New 
South Wales, and are deserving of general 
cultivation ; they bloom freely from July 
to September, coming in at a season when 
flowering subjects are not over-plentiful. 
They are of somewhat straggling habit, 
very distinct from most others that require 
similar treatment as to soil and tempera- 
ture; they continue for many weeks to 
open a succession of flowers, produced in 
bunches from the current season’s wood. 
This continuous blooming habit renders 
these Swainsonas especially useful for con- 
servatory decoration, although those who 
want flowering plants for exhibition during 
the latter part of summer will find them 
of service. They are free growers, and 
will succeed well in a mixture of peat and 
loam, in equal proportions ; or, if peat can- 
not be had of good quality, they will grow 
in loam, particularly if it contains plenty 
of fibre, so as to maintain it in a healthy 
state for some years ; this is always an im- 
portant condition, that cannot be too often 
impressed upon those who have not had 
much experience in the cultivation of 
things of this kind. It frequently happens 
that a certain soil, either peat or loam, will 
