KENNEDYA. 



Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 



225 



6-iiich jjots with a single head of bloom, but, 

 to admit of this they should not be stopped 

 the first year, but grown on with a single 

 shoot from the cutting pot ; in this way 

 they are useful for decorative use. 



The following are good varieties ; — 



K. hiconvexa. A white-flowered, small- 

 growing sort. 



K. coccinea. A good red-coloured kind, 

 and a free grower. 



K. Frederick Deshois. A good grower, 

 that produces very large trusses of deep 

 red flowers. 



K. jasminea. A small-growing white- 

 flowered kind, not requiring nearly so much 

 pot-room as the others. 



K. Madame Celeste Winans. A re- 

 markably free-blooming and free-growing 

 variety, "bearing whitish pink flowers. 



K. rdiniata. A free-growing and very 

 free-flowering sort, the head smaller than 

 most of the other kinds ; deep pink ap- 

 proaching to pale red. 



K. Phoenix. A stout free-growing sort, 

 with immense heads of fiery red flowers. 

 A fine variety. 



Insects. — Kalosanthes are seldom mo- 

 lested by insects except aphides, which if 

 troublesome must be destroyed with tobacco 

 smoke. 



KENNEDYA. 



This is a handsome genus of evergreen 

 greenhouse, summer-blooming twiners, 

 natives of New Holland and New South 

 Wales. Fur a lofty house the strong- 

 growing species are well adapted, especially 

 for draping the roof, from which their 

 long drooping shoots, hanging in graceful 

 festoons, are very effective. One advan- 

 tage which they possess for growing in such 

 positions is, that they ^vill bear cutting-in 

 freely, which is an advantage in the winter, 

 when as much light as possible is required 

 by the plants grown underneath. This is 

 a consideration not sufliciently kept in 

 sight in the selection of the kind of plants 

 to be grown for roof-climbers, between 

 which and the things that occupy the body 

 of the house there must necessarily always 

 be a compromise, as there is no question 

 but that the climbers do more or less in- 

 jury to the other plants, and are simply 

 allowed to occupy their position to give a 

 general effect to the house. There is a 

 great difference in the strength of gro-wth 

 and general appearance of the diflerent 

 species, the smaller growers being more 

 suitable for clothing a pillar than training 

 to the roof. The strongest growers can 

 with advantage be used for covering a back 

 wall, in which situation they will succeed, 

 even in partial light, much better than 



many things of more tender nature ; they 

 are easily grown, make rapid progress, and 

 are not liable to get out of order at the 

 roots to such an extent as many plants are, 

 but, like some other subjects of similar 

 nature, they do best when planted out. 

 They are much better for being kept in a 

 pot for a time until they have acquired 

 sufficient strength of root to enable them 

 to lay hold of the soil in a reasonable time 

 after they are turned out. 



Kennedyas strike from cuttings of the 

 young shoots taken off with a heel in 

 spring, when about 3 or 4 inches long, 

 put singly in little pots in sand, and kept 

 in an intermediate temperature, close, 

 moist, and shaded ; when well rooted 

 move them from the propagating frame, 

 but encourage growth by a genial tempera- 

 ture, a little shade, and a moderately moist 

 atmosphere. By midsummer they should 

 be moved into 6-inch pots, and growth 

 assisted afterwards by a continuaJice of the 

 treatment hitherto advised. Eavih plant 

 will require a stick to support the single 

 shoot which it will have. Towards aurumn 

 give more air, dispense with shading, and 

 lower the temperature down to about 40°. 

 In March or April the plants should have 

 a 2 or 3 inch shift, according to the 

 quantity and condition of their roots. 

 Kennedyas will thrive in either peat or 

 loam ; it is better to use the former for the 

 weaker-growing species, as it will impait a 

 freer disposition of growth, and to confine 

 the strong growers to loam, which should 

 be good in quality, containing plenty of 

 vegetable matter. They are comparatively 

 strong rooters, and do not require the soil 

 broken very fine ; add to it a fifth or sixth 

 of sand, according to its nature ; di'ain the 

 pots sufficiently, as from the vigorous 

 character of the plants they will need a 

 good deal of water in the growing season. 

 After potting place them for a few weeks, 

 until the roots get hold of the soil, in an 

 atmosphere a little closer than tliat of an 

 ordinary greenhouse, keep the atmosphere 

 rather moist during this time, and after- 

 wards give more air in the early and 

 middle part of the day, close the house in 

 good time, and syringe overhead. Give 

 water to the roots as required, and when 

 in active growth they ^^411 take a good deal. 

 Continue this until the middle of August, 

 when the plants should have more air, and 

 syringing shoidd be stopped to discourage 

 further growth and ripen up the wood. 



At the time of potting, half-a-dozen 

 sticks, 3 or 4 feet long, should be inserted 

 in the soil just within the rims of the jxits ; 

 round these the shoots ought to be kept 

 closely and regularly trained, as if allowed 

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