CHAPTER X. 
THE GESNERACEOUS HOUSE. 
In order to be successful in growing Gesneraceous 
plants, either the house for them must be facing the 
east or west, or else it must be shaded. The kind of 
house similar to that recommended for the Geranium, 
and set the same way, is as good as anything for this 
class of plants, except that the roof should be double- 
glazed, and the rafters placed much closer together, as 
they require no strong sunlight; on the contrary, this 
must be avoided. If a southern aspect is adopted, some 
permanent evergreen shade must be employed for the 
south roof, otherwise this class will get injured by the 
strong rays of the sun in their beautiful foliage, on 
account of which they are considered so handsome. 
The foliage of some of these species is handsomely 
marked, while others are of a deep velvety green; and 
in either case, if exposed to the strong rays of the sun, 
they get scorched and then lose the beauty for which 
they are so much admired. This class includes the 
lovely free-flowering Achimenes with its multitudinous 
varieties ; the glorious and unique family of Gloxinias, 
which must be seen to form an adequate idea of their 
beauty when in foliage as well as in flower; the 
Plectopoma, a sort of half Achimenes and half Gloxinia; 
the Gesnera Zebrina and its varieties; the Strepto- 
