THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 143 



THE CULTIVATION OF THE ACHIMENE3. 



HERE are few plants more beautiful, or that will better 

 reward the cultivator for an extra attention, thau the 

 different species and varieties of Achitnenes. I have 

 had fine specimens of the grandiflora in bloom for six 

 weeks, and they look as if tney would continue to bloom 

 in fine condition for as much longer. The longiflora, though not so 

 fine with me as I have seen with other cultivators, has also been 

 beautifully in flower, whilst hirsuta and pedunculata — the latter in 

 its bloom little inferior to picta — are just showing their flower-buds 

 One advantage which picta possesses over the other is, that it will 

 grow and flower more freely in the winter mouths when' placed in a 

 stove temperature, but then, all the others will flourish for a longer 

 period in a greenhouse temperature. One of their great recommen- 

 dations to amateurs of limited means, and to persons who like 

 myself, are required to make a great floral dispiay in summer and 

 autumn, with but limited means for keeping up a stock durino- the 

 winter, is, that during the cold mouths of the year, as soon as "done 

 flowering, they require no attention more thau keeping the roots 

 dry and free from frost. My plan with them, as well as°Gioxinias 

 and several of the Gesneras, is merely to lay the pots on their 

 broadsides, and pile them up in brick fashion in any snu^ corner 

 below a stage. The Achimenes wdl stand a greater decree of cold 

 with impunity than the Gloxinias will do, unless the roots of the 

 latter are very dry, when they are apt to become so much shrivelled 

 as to impair their future luxuriance. To preserve them safely neither 

 of them should be exposed to a lower temperature than 35° and if 

 40° is made the miuimum, so much the better. The roots will keen 

 better in the pots in which they were previously growino- than if 

 taken out and put away in drawers, etc. The soil I use' is equal 

 parts of turfy loam and turfy peat, with au addition of about one 

 sixth part of silver-sand, rotten duug, aud lumps of charcoal in 

 equal proportions, using more charcoal if the soil is not lumpy and 

 full of fibre. It is a matter of little consequence whether they are 

 grown in pans or pots, for though the roots are inclined to run 

 shallow, I have found them at the bottom of the largest pots 

 "Whether pots or shallow pans are used, there should be no deficiency 

 of drainage. To keep up a succession of bloom as long as possible 

 succession tubers should be excited in February, Ap°il, and the 

 end of June, or any time between these periods. If excited later 

 they will be of small service to the amateur who has got nothiu" but 

 his greenhouse, frame, or pit. There will be no difficulty in exciting 

 any of them, except the first lot, and that difficulty will not exist 

 with the amateur if he has a pit heated by any means except duno- 

 for his early melons aud cucumbers. For accomplishing that object 

 the scaly tubers should be taken out of the pjts, and placed with a 

 little earth about them, into small shallow pans, and at once trans- 

 ferred 10 a situation commanding a temperature of 00° or 70° with 

 abundance of atmospheric moisture. This can be as easily effected 



