276 



Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 



to give flowers of the single varieties little 

 interior to named kinds. 



Seed may Ije sown in March in pans 

 filled with sifted loam, to wliich has been 

 added one-fifth of leaf-mould with some 

 sand ; cover the seeds slightly and stand in 

 a temperature of 60°, and they will vegetate 

 quickly. When the little plants are large 

 enough to handle move singly into 3-inch 

 pots, giving them soil similar to that in which 

 they were sown ; keep close for a few days, 

 when admit more air, and put them where 

 they will get plenty of light. Nip out the 

 points of the shoots as soon as they begin 

 to grow freely, giving a little shade in the 

 middle of the day, with air, and water to 

 the roots as required. In six weeks move 

 them into 6 or 7 inch pots, now using the 

 soil without sifting, and adding to it some 

 rotten manure ; again stop the shoots, and 

 after they have grown so as to need sup- 

 port put small sticks to each. They will 

 flower through the summer, and will keep 

 on blooming longer if assisted with manure- 

 water once or twice a week. Young plants 

 are best, and it is better to discard the old 

 ones after flowering, and to propagate 

 young stock either in autumn or early 

 in spring. Through the winter keep them 

 in a temperature of 40° in the night, give 

 less water to the soil, and let them be near 

 the light. 



The double varieties of Petunia are best 

 increased from cuttings, which may be 

 struck in August, and treated subsequently 

 as advised for the seedlings, keeping them 

 in 3-inch pots through the winter, giving 

 more root-room in spring ; single varieties 

 that are good enough to keep on may be 

 treated in like manner. 



Although, as we have said, a choice 

 strain of seed of the single varieties may be 

 relied on to give handsome flowers, still 

 the following\'arieties are of great merit, 

 being the selection from thousands of 

 seedlings : — 



P. Bacchus. Crimson-purple and white. 



P. Cannell's Favourite. Eed and purple. 



P. Clairvoyant. White and mulberry. 



P. Distinction. Purple and crimson. 



P. Dr. Denny. Crimson-maroon. 



P. Dr. Hogg. Magenta, white, and 

 purple. 



P. elegans. White and crimson, beauti- 

 fully fringed. 



P. marginata. Kosy -purple and white. 



P. Marie Seabrook. White and crimson- 

 purple. 



P. Mr. R. Owen. White and magenta. 



P. Mrs. A. Mayes. White and purple. 



P. Mrs. H. Cannell. White and maroon. 



P. Mrs. II. JFellam. Magenta, white, 

 and jjurple. 



P. Mrs. S. Hibberd. White, maroon, and 

 purple. 



P. Mrs. W. Elder. White and bright 

 purple. 



P. The Hon. Mrs. Legge. Pure white, 



DOUBLES. 



P. Adolphe Weicke. Crimson-magenta 

 and white ; fringed. 



P. Alice. Eosy-purple and white ; 

 fringed. 



P. Antagonist. White. 



P. Beauty of Runnymede. Plum-colour 

 and white. 



P. Crepuscule. Crimson -purple and white ; 

 fringed. 



P. Duchess of Edinburgh. Light rose, 

 white, and dark crimson. 



P. Embleme. Rosy-purple and white ; 

 fringed. 



P. Fascination. White, purple, and 

 rose. 



P. Lady of Plymouth. Rosy-purple and 

 white ; fringed. 



P. 31. Buchner. White. 



P. Madame de Foultevoy. Rose, white, 

 and purple. 



P. Madame Rendatler. Claret-jpurisle 

 and white ; fringed. 



P. Minnie Evans. Rosy-purple and 

 white. 



P. ])osthumia. White and rosy-purple. 



P. reticulata. White and dark lose ; 

 fringed. 



P. roseate. Rose and daik maroon- 

 purple. 



Insects. — Aphides, which are often 

 troublesome on Petunias, should be de- 

 stroyed by fumigation. 



PHILESIA BUXIFOLIA. 



There is only one species of the genus in 

 cultivation ; it is a pretty evergreen plant, 

 all but, if not quite, hardy in some parts 

 of the kingdom, but it is worth a place in 

 a greenhouse. It is a slow grower, and is 

 difficult to strike from cuttings. It is best 

 increased from suckers, which the plant 

 produces freely ; these should be taken off 

 in sjiring before growth begins, and put 

 singly in pots large enough to hold the 

 roots attached with a moderate quantity 

 of soil ; peat, with a fair amount of sand 

 added, will suit it. Grow on with ordinary 

 greenhouse treatment as to air, water, and 

 general attention, and the year following, 

 in spring, give them pots a size or two 

 larger, but, as already said, the plant is a 

 slow grower and does not require so much 

 root-room as some things. The flowers are 



