~ 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. | 31 
succulent-house at Kew. The leaves of the two genera are much alike, and they 
do well in company under the same treatment. The flowers of the Clivia ave very 
distinct and ornamental, and being produced in the winter, it is a subject of much 
value for decorative purposes. This specimen is growing in an 18-inch pot, had 
about a dozen umbels, averaging each the same number of pendulous flowers. The 
segments are orange-red, the mouth pale green. 
PRESERVING THE CoLours oF Driep Frowers.—M. Boulade, in the Culét- 
vateur de la Region Lyonnaise, recommends the following plan for preserving the 
colours of flowers in the dried state: Place the flowers between several sheets of 
unsized paper—filtering paper ; place these sheets between two fire-bricks, and place 
the whole in a stove or oven heated to 60° to 70° Cent. Change the papers after 
an hour. After two or thre hours the flowers will be sufficiently dried, and their 
colours preserved. 
Mr. B. 8. Wixu1Ms, of the Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper Holloway, 
has recently received the prizes awarded him at the International Horticultural 
Exhibition held at Cologne in August last. These comprise a gold medal, a silver 
medal, and three bronze medals, and the Prize of Honour given by the Crown Prince 
and Princess of Prussia. This magnificent prize consists of a clock, a pair of 
candlesticks, and a pair of vases in Meissenia ware, and of the estimated value of £70, 
Curr For Sicxty Por Pranrs.—The Bulletin Horticole de Soissons, on the 
authority of M. Willermoz, gives the following cure for sickly pot plants, which he 
states has been pursued for some years with unfailing success by M. Lucas, of 
Hohenheim. It is recommended in the case of plants which have become sickly 
through over watering, planting too deeply, ete. Amongst the plants so treated 
were Palms, Roses, Ficus elastica, and others. Instead of changing the soil it is 
well stirred and soaked with water, heated to a temperature of 120° to 144° (Fahr.) 
until it runs off freely from the bottom of the pots. After a few days the sickly 
plants recover their original look of health and vigour, and begin to grow again. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
MacrozaMIA sprraLis.—G. L., Great Yarmouth,—This elegant cycad may be 
grown most successfully in a warm greenhouse or conservatory, and when in a 
thoroughly vigorous state it may be wintered in an ordinary greenhouse temperature 
without injury. It should be potted in a mixture of turfy peat and loam in equal 
quantities, and one part of sand to every four parts of the mixture. The pots must 
be well drained, for when the soil is water-logged the roots soon decay, and the 
plants become unhealthy. Your plant is unquestionably in an unhealthy state, and 
we would suggest that the drainage be examined, and the plant, if in a cold green- 
house, be removed to a structure in which it will enjoy a greater degree of warmth. 
If the stem has no leaves, it is, perhaps, quite dead. 
Heating Smart Greennousze.—F. B., ZLeeds.—The stoves made to burn 
mineral oil are very useful for keeping the frost out of small greenhouses. The 
products of combustion are in no way injurious to the health of the plants, provided 
the flame is clear. These stoves are made by Messrs. Hincks, of Birmingham ; 
Honey, of Oxford Street, London ; Deitz & Co., Carter Lane, City, and others ; and 
they may be purchased at first-class ironmongery shops. 
Beppine Puanrs.—K.S.—Zonal geraniums intended for bedding purposes 
require very little moisture at this season of the year to maintain them in the most 
perfect health. It is not desizable they should make much growth during the month 
of January, for they start more vigorously into growth on the approach of spring 
when they have enjoyed a thorough rest during the winter. They will take no 
harm if the soil becomes quite dry, and remains so for a week or ten days, The 
verbenas, helitropiums, petunias, and other plants of a similar character, should be 
kept rather moister than the geraniums, but even these must not be over-watered. 
The potting off may commence early in February, and the work be then pushed on 
briskly, to have it completed before the rush of spring work requires attention. 
Fororne AzAvess.—A. W. Simpson.—We would advise you to select plants 
that are well set with flower-buds, and to place them in a suitable temperature at 
once. They may be placed in the plant stove or the forcing-pit, direct from the 
greenhouse, but it is much better, if it can be done conveniently, to place'them in 
January. 
