224 



Greenliou-fe and iStove Plants. 



KALOSANTHES. 



Howering species, that, bears large heads of 

 flesh-coloured flowers. An autuiuii bloomer 

 from Rio de Janeiro. 



/. coccinea. A winter or early spring 

 flowering kind with scarlet floweis. From 

 South America. 



/. lilacina. A pretty species which 

 flowers at various times. 



/. splendens. A desirable free-flowering 

 kind, that may be had in bloom at dift'ei'ent 

 times according to the warmth it is sub- 

 jected to. 



Insects. — Aphides and red spider some- 

 times aftect these plants, but are not so 

 partial to them as to many things ; syringe 

 freely with clean water to remove the latter ; 

 fumigate for the aphides. 



KALOSANTHES. 



These are evergreen greenliouse plants 

 from the Cape of Good Hope, that bear 

 freely their showy flowers which are pro- 

 duced through the summer months. The 

 plants are of compact branching habit and 

 carry tlieir flowers in large trusses on the 

 extremities of the shoots. They are 

 among the easiest to propagate of cul- 

 tivated plants, as any bit of shoot if only 

 laid on a damp surface in a suitable tem- 

 perature will emit roots. They may be 

 struck at any time during the spring or 

 summer, Init the spring is preferable as it 

 gives time for the young plants to get their 

 growth well hardened up before winter. 

 About March select shoots of medium 

 strength some 4 inches long, remove the 

 leaves from the lower half and put five or 

 six together in 6-inch pots filled with sand ; 

 give a little water, but do not keep too wet 

 or there will be danger of their rotting. 

 Stand in a temperature of about 55°, but do 

 not confine the cuttings under a propagating 

 glass or frame as thei'e is no necessity foi' 

 keeping them from the air, their succulent 

 nature lieing such that they will not flag 

 s<j as to be harmed by full exposure to the 

 air of the house or pit in which they are 

 put to strike. They will root in a few 

 weeks, after which move them singly into 

 3-inch pots, using good turfy loam broken 

 fine, with some sand and a little sifted 

 rotten manure added. As soon as they 

 begin to grow cut out the points, which 

 will cause them to break several shoots ; 

 stand them near the glass in a house or pit 

 where they can receive oi'dinary greenhouse 

 treatment in tlie matters of air and water, 

 but do not shade as they require all the 

 sun they can get. By the beginning of 

 June they will need moving into 6-inch 

 pots, in the same soil as before ; after this 

 keep them indoors for five or six weeks, 



when stand them out in the full sun in the 

 oi)en air ; give ^\■ater regularly as it is 

 needed. Remove them to a jni or frame 

 before there is danger of frost, standing as 

 near the glass as convenient. Winter at 

 about 40° in the night ; towards April again 

 cut out the points of the shoots and give 

 tliem a 4-inch shift. Kalosanthes are free 

 rooters, and will bear liberal pot-room. 

 Use the soil a little more lumj^y, and drain 

 the pots well. A shelf or stage in a green- 

 house or pit where they can be close to the 

 glass is now necessary to keep the growth 

 short and sturdy, as if drawn they will be 

 sj5oilt — to prevent this give plenty of air 

 in the day. At midsummer turn them out- 

 of-doors in a sunny position, standing the 

 pots on a body of ashes, and giving water 

 freely as the soil gets filled with roots. No- 

 thing more is now required except to house 

 them again early in September, wintering as 

 before well up to the glass and applying no 

 more water than will keep the soil in a 

 slightly moist condition ; this, combined 

 with the exposure out-of-doors in the sun, 

 is necessary to induce the strongest-growing 

 varieties to flower fully. Keep a tem- 

 perature similar to that advised for the 

 previous winter ; if the foregoing directions 

 are followed all the leading shoots will in 

 spring set flower which will open in June ; 

 each shoot should have a small stick for 

 support. The flowers will last three weeks 

 or more, duiing which time they will be 

 very eff'ective in the greenhouse or conser- 

 vatory. After blooming cut the shoots well 

 back, and as soon as they liave broken into 

 growth move oi;t-of-doors, where allow 

 them to remain until the time for housing 

 comes round. We do not advise that 

 plants that have flowered as described 

 sliould be potted the same season, but after 

 wintering as before give pots 4 or 5 inches 

 larger in April, and again stand them out 

 in June; they will not bloom this summer, 

 but by ti'eating generally as in the year 

 previous to their flowering (except that it 

 will be better not to stop the shoots) they 

 Avill make large specimens the ensuing 

 season producing a sheet of flowers. After- 

 wards in most cases it will be best to dis- 

 card them and to depend on young stock 

 to take their place. If large specimens for 

 exhibition are required in the least time 

 possible the plants must not be allowed to 

 flower the summer they are in 10-inch 

 pots, but must again have their shoots cut 

 back in spring and be moved on into large 

 pots as soon as they have again broken, 

 tying the shoots well out so as to give them 

 plenty of room. They may be flowered 

 the second summer after the cuttings are 

 struck, in the shape of small plants in 



