50 ILLUSTKATION — GLOXINIA FTPIANA. 



and was exhibited in September at the Dunoon Floricultural Show, 

 and subsequently at other places, where it attracted universal atten- 

 tion and admiration, by its differing so widely from every other kind 

 of Gloxinia, and the flowers being so strikingly beautiful. 



Messrs. Drysdale and Co. nurserymen, of Glasgow, purchased the 

 stock of it, and plants may be had of them, or of ourselves as their 

 agent for its sale in England, by the first week in April next. Like 

 the other Gloxinias it blooms very freely, and its profusion of flowers, 

 produced through the summer season, form a delightful ornament for 

 the greenhouse, conservatory, or stove, and give it an especial claim 

 to be grown in every one. 



One of the most interesting attentions in floriculture is that of 

 raising new varieties'of flowers. The Gloxinia presents an ample range 

 for experiment and additional improvement in this way. The ease with 

 which the impregnation is effected, and seed obtained, also the cir- 

 cumstance of the plants blooming so speedily, alike invite to so 

 pleasing a pursuit. 



Very excellent directions, in which we perfectly acquiesce, for the 

 culture of Gloxinias have recently been given {^January Number, 

 p. 8,) by our respected correspondent, Mr. Wm. Chitty ; few remarks 

 are therefore necessary on this occasion on that particular. In a com- 

 munication, however, we have received from another correspondent, 

 with whom the genus has long been a great favourite, are some inte- 

 resting particulars, additional to those entertained by Mr. Chitty, 

 which we gladly transcribe. 



" I have," says our correspondent, " devoted some attention to 

 raising hybrids, by the impregnation of the most distinct sorts, 

 and have been rewarded with some very handsome varieties. I 

 principally impregnate the flowers which are produced at the early 

 period of the year, by which selection, I obtained well ripened 

 seed in the summer, and thus obtain the advantage of sowing the 

 seeds immediately they are ripe, and the plants form tubers of a 

 size that season, which, without injury, endure the rest period of 

 winter. When the seed is sown as soon as ripe, it more certainly 

 vegetates than if retained till the following spring. I sow the seed in 

 flat pan-pots. I have a free drainage, use a turfy-chopped sandy-peat 

 soil, the surface made even and about a quarter of an inch of silver 

 sand spread over it, upon which I scatter the seed, pressing it gently 

 into the sand and sprinkling over it just as much sand as will cover it 

 out of sight. I place the seed in a hot-bed frame, covering a glass 

 over the pot, and the plants soon appear. When they are strong 

 enough to transplant I pot them off singly into small pots. The kind of 

 compost I use is sandy peat, light loam, and old rotten cow-dung, equal 

 parts, but Mr. Chitty's may perhaps be better than mine ; ray plants, 

 however, bloom profusely. I replace them in the hot-bed frame, and 

 encourage their growth. About October, I gradually withhold water, 

 and place tlie pots either in the shed, or cool part of my greenhouse, 

 so £is just to preserve them from frost. As soon as signs of returning 

 growth are evinced the second season, I pot the tubers, and treat them 

 similar to my older kinds, and they bloom vigorously that year. 



" Any of the kinds that appear likely to be distinct and fine, and 



