MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 107 



24. Pavktta caffra. Another fine hothouse plant at Mrs. Lawrence's; pro- 

 uces heads of flowers very similar to an Ixora, of a pure white. This being in 



bloom when the Ixoras are, gives a fine contrast. 



25. Ixora incarnata. We saw this pretty species in the collection at Messrs. 

 Rollisson's, Tooting. Its heads of fine flesh-coloured flowers are very pretty. 

 The whole tribe of Ixoras are well deserving a place in every collection of stove 

 plants. They can be had cheap, are easy of culture, and profuse in flowering. 



PART III. 

 MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



QUERIES. 



On sowing Seeds, destroying Green Fly, &c. — Will you, or any of your 

 numerous correspondents, have the goodness to inform me whether the following 

 plants can be raised from seed with only the aid of a common hotbed ; also the 

 best time for sowing, and the proper mode of treating the young plants to make 

 them flower as soon as possible ? viz., Gloxinia speciosa and Gloxinia caulescens, 

 Lobelia cardinalis, Ipomopsis elegans, Pentstemon gentianoides, and Maurandia 

 Barclayana. Will you also inform me of an effectual method of getting rid of 

 the Green Fly, so destructive to Rose trees, Geraniums, &c. ? The last two'years 

 I have purchased a number of fine young plants of Geraniums in May, from a 

 nurseryman in this neighbourhood, and have kept them to flower in the house ; 

 and in less than a week they have been invariably attacked by the Green Fly. 

 I have tried fumigating them with tobacco-smoke, washing them with lime, 

 tobacco-water, &c, but without success ; the insect has soon reappeared, and by 

 its ravages weakened the plants so much that I have been quite unable to pre- 

 serve them through the winter. I would also respectfully suggest to the Con- 

 ductor of the Cabinet the utility of stating in his notices of new and rare plants, 

 whether they can be raised from seed, and are annual or perennial. — [As far as 

 possible we will attend to it. — Conductor.] 



I have a few other queries to make, but as I fear I shall trespass too much 

 upon your pages, will defer them until some future period, when, if agreeable to 

 the Conductor, I shall be glad to forward them. ' The insertion of the above in 

 your next number will oblige your constant reader, 



February 21, 1840. Solomon. 



[Seeds of the plants named should be sown immediately in a very sandy loam, 

 and cannot be placed belter than in a hotbed frame. The surface soil upon 

 which the seeds are to be sown should be very fine, as also that with which they 

 are covered, and when sown be gently pressed to close it to them. AY hen the 

 plants are up an inch high, they may be safely transplanted singly into pots. 

 A light rich loam is suited to all of them. After potting, they should be placed 

 again in the frame, till they have stiuck into the soil, then be removed into a 

 greenhouse, or other cooler place. The Gloxinias require to be kept in the frame, 

 or be taken to a plant stove, vinery, &c. Tobacco-water may be procured from 

 the manufactory at about tenpence per gallon ; this will destroy the Green Fly. 

 If it be diluted by an equal proportion of water added, it is quite strong enough 

 for the purpose. The best plan is to turn the plant upside down, and immerse 

 it therein, by holding it for a minute or so. The liquid will keep, closed up in 

 a bottle, so as to answer for years. We have used it thus successfully for 

 many years. To purchase a small portion of tobacco, and make a weak 

 liquid, will not answer, but the genuine expressed liquor of the tobacco- 

 nist will do. Whenever the insects appear on the plants, a [fresh immersion is 

 requilite. The liquid in its pure state is not in the least injurious to vege- 



K 2 



