144 



Greenhome and iSlove Plants. 



DKSFONTAINEA. 



a number of fine things tliat are tlius con- 

 signed to neglect, simply through a want 

 of consideration of the conditions under 

 which they exist naturally, and which to 

 some extent must be imitated under culti- 

 vation if success is to be attained. 



The plant is a native of Patagonia, 

 where, according to Dr. Hooker, itoccujnes 

 a position some 12,000 feet above the level 

 of the sea ; from this it may be easily 

 supposed that it is hardy in some parts of 

 the kingdom. Many plants will flower 

 freely even when their growth has been 

 made under the necessarily somewhat con- 

 fined condition of the air in a greenhouse 

 during the spring months, if they are later 

 on in the season subjected to a hardening 

 process out-of-doors, Avhereby the wood is 

 ripened ; but in the case of othei'S, such as 

 this Desfontainea, the growth of which is 

 somewhat slow and the wood and leaves of 

 a very hard nature, unless the growth is 

 made under conditions that ensure its 

 being fully solidified as it is formed, no 

 amount of exposure to sun and air after- 

 waids will make up the deficiency so as to 

 enable it to set and produce flowers in 

 quantity. This will be understood by 

 growers of Cape Heaths, some of which — 

 notably the species depressa— can never be 

 induced to flower freely unless the greater 

 portion of the growth is foimed in the open 

 air. With this kind the usual exposure 

 out-of-doors in the latter part of summer 

 will not suffice ; the plant, if it is to blo(mi 

 well, requires its growth to be in a great 

 measure made in the open air, fully exposed 

 to the sun all through the summer. This 

 is more fully exemplified in the case of 

 Desfontainea, which should be stood out- 

 of-doois from the time the frosts are over 

 in the spring until the autumn is far ad- 

 vanced, although this may not be advisable 

 in the case of small plants, it being better 

 to keep them under glass until they have 

 attained some size, as in this way they 

 will make quicker progress. It is free in 

 forming roots, and Avill succeed in either 

 peat or loam, but the latter is usually 

 more conducive to the free production of 

 flowers. 



The plant is propagated from cuttings of 

 the young shoots in a senu-ripened state, 

 taken off about August, and put 2 or 3 

 inches apart in good-sized pans in sand, 

 covered close with a jDropagating glass, 

 kept moist and shaded in a cool house or 

 pit thi'ough the autumn and winter, during 

 which time the base of the cuttings will 

 callus. About March put them in a little 

 warmth, when they will soon root. By 

 June they will be fit to place singly in 

 3-iuch pots, and should be kept a little close 



until they have begun to grow ; give more 

 air in the autumn, and winter in a green- 

 house or ])it. About March pinch out the 

 tops of the shoots, and as soon as they 

 show signs of growing move into pots 3 

 inches larger. Select the best turfy loam, 

 retaining all the fibre ; add as much sand 

 as will keep the soil for years in a sufli- 

 ciently porous condition, for an evergreen 

 of this description will not well bear any 

 of the soil being removed from its ball, 

 and as it is a plant that will last for a 

 number of years with fair treatment pro- 

 vision should be made in having a material 

 that is not likely to soon get into an un- 

 healthy state, brain the pots well, and 

 ram the soil so as to make it firm ; during 

 this spring and summer keej) them along 

 with the general stock of young hard- 

 wooded plants, encouraging growth by 

 closing the house early enough to secure 

 for a few hours a warm, growing tempera- 

 ture made sufticiently moist by sprinkling 

 water about and syringing the plants o\'er- 

 head. They are not liable to become 

 drawn, but should, neverthelesf?, be stood 

 where they will get plenty of light, or the 

 base of the plants will not be properly 

 furnished ; the somewhat rigid character 

 of the shoots make them more diflficult to 

 bend, yet from the first they should be 

 trained out or the bottom will ultimately 

 become naked. So far as possible get the 

 strongest shoots thus well out and as low 

 down as can be at the commencement. As 

 the roots enter the new soil freely give 

 more water, for, like most plants I'rom a 

 high altitude, they do not like to be kept 

 too dry ; they require only enough shade 

 to prevent the leaves burning. Continue 

 this treatment thiough the simimer until 

 the middle of August, when turn the 

 plants out-of-doors in the full sun, pro- 

 tecting the pots from its direct force. 

 They may remain out until the end of 

 September, after which remove them to a 

 house or pit where frost will be excluded ; 

 give just as much water as will keep the 

 soil in a healthy state. In Mai'ch go over 

 the plants and shorten back slightly any 

 shoots that are taking an undue lead of the 

 weaker ones ; in April again give them 

 fresh pots, projiortioning the size of the 

 shift to the root-progress they have 

 made, and using similar soil in a little 

 rougher state ; the shoots should now be 

 well tied out, so as to secure handsome 

 symmetrical .specimens. Do not keep the 

 atmosph.ere too close, as it is not desirable 

 that much tender growth should be en- 

 couraged, as it would be liable to suft'er 

 from sudden exposure in the open air, to 

 which the plants should be removed to- 



