THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 161 



DIPLADENEAS. 



( With Coloured Ulusiration of Dipladenia Brearleyana.') 

 BY GEOBGE GORDOK. 



IPLADENIAS have long occupied a higli position 

 amongst stove plants grown for their flowers, and now 

 that so many valuable additions have been made to the 

 31 somewhat circumscribed list of species and varieties, 

 they will probably obtain increased attention from 

 cultivators generally. The newest and one of the very best of 

 recent introductions is Dipladenia Brearleyana, of which a 

 coloured illustration accompanies these remarks. It is not only 

 one of the best of the Dipladenias, but it is one of the finest of 

 stove plants, whether we regard its adaptability for training up the 

 pillars and along the rafters of the plant stove, or for cultivation, as 

 a specimen plant. For the latter purpose, it is probably without an 

 equal, and those who cultivate plants for competitive purposes should 

 lose no time in making its acquaintance. It is a garden hybrid, 

 distributed for the first time last autumn, by Mr. William Bull, the 

 well known new and rare plant merchant, of the King's Eoad, 

 Chelsea. It is of free growth, and is furnished with opposite oblong 

 acute leaves of a deep rich green, which form an admirable back- 

 ground to the immense clusters of richly-coloured flowers. The 

 flowers are of a larger size than those of existing species, and of an 

 exceedingly rich shade of crimson, which increases in intensity as 

 the flowers acquire age. They are produced in clusters of large 

 size ; and a specimen two or three feet in height, and as much in 

 diameter, and furnished with twenty or thirty of these clusters, has 

 a wonderfully striking appearance. A well .flowered plant trained 

 up a pillar in the stove is also exceedingly beautiful. 



The other first-class Dipladenias now in cultivation are : — D. 

 amcena, a variety of free growth, the flowers abundantly produced, 

 and of deep rose colour, with orange throat. D. Boliviense, a more 

 slender grower than the other kinds, producing a profusion of small 

 pure while flowers. D. insignis, the flowers large and of good sub- 

 stance, the lobes rose-carmine, the throat deeper in colour, and the 

 outside of the tube white. D. Williamsi, a magnificent hybrid with 

 large flowers of a delicate rose-pink, the throat bright rose. It is 

 very free flowering, and in every way a decided acquisition. 



Dipladenias require a stove temperature throughout the year, 

 and in the early part of the year an atmosphere well charged with 

 humidity is most conducive to their well-being. They should, as a 

 rule, be potted just before they commence to make new growth in 

 the spring, in a compost prepared by incorporating together 

 two parts each of fibrous loam and peat, and one part of silver sand 

 and nodules of charcoal. The sand and charcoal to be in equal pro- 

 portions. The pots must be well drained, and, as a rule, about 

 double the crocks required for the general stock of stove plants 



Jane. ^^ 



