134 CALCEOLABIA HYBBIDA. 



is readily to bo explained. The cuttings, or rather slips — for these are best — may 

 be planted in a shady spot in the open air, in sandy loam, or any soil rendered 

 tolerably open by an admixture of sand ; and it will be an advantage if they are 

 covered with a hand glass. Occasionally, the procumbent shoots will be found to 

 have emitted a few roots, and these will require but a short period to make nice 

 plants. The cuttings may also be planted in pots, of well-drained sandy loam, 

 and placed in a cold frame, where they may be left during the winter undisturbed ; 

 and in spring, most of them will be found to be well-rooted, and in a fit state for 

 potting off. In mild seasons, the cuttings left in the open air will do very well, if 

 protected from heavy rains and frost. 



The Calceolaria is much hardier than is usually supposed ; and in sheltered localities, 

 we should have no hesitation in leaving a few plants exposed throughout the winter. 

 Very sharp frosts would, doubtless, prove fatal ; but the loss of the plant could 

 always be guarded against, by preserving a slip or two in a cold frame. If any of 

 our readers should be induced to try the experiment, we should be glad to be 

 informed of the results, with the name of the varieties thus exposed. 



The cuttings should be potted off early in spring, in rich loamy soil, and be 

 transferred to the beds or borders in May. In watering the Calceolaria during the 

 summer season, whether in pots or the open ground, the coldest water may be 

 employed ; for, as we recently remarked in an article on Window Gardening, their 

 fluid aliment, in their native habitats, is derived from the melted snows of the Andes. 



The colours of the shrubby Calceolarias are not quite so varied as those of the 

 Show varieties ; but we see no reason why this should be so ; and we hope, before 

 long, to see the former as beautifully mottled in their tints, as the herbaceous 

 kinds. 



There are already a number of highly beautiful varieties, which will, no doubt, 

 soon supersede those with small flowers so generally seen in cultivation. We have 

 been much pleased with the fine yellow variety, sulphured splendens ; not only are 

 the flowers of considerable size, but the foliage is handsome. The old Viscocissima 

 is well known. Ampler ieaul is is a recently introduced sjmies, with deep yellow 

 flowers. Of the brownish crimson varieties, the best are Sultan ; and Shankleyana, 

 Kendles Superb, and the old Kentish Hero, are both very fine varieties. The two 

 former have the largest flowers. There is a very pretty variety, Vivid, with the 

 larger lobe of the flower of almost a scarlet tint, the cap of the flower, as it is 

 termed, being yellow. Nor is pure white altogether unknown, there being one 

 very interesting species of this colour, alba, or alhifora ; which proves to be one of 

 the hardiest of the genus, and may be had for a very reasonable sum. Messrs. 

 Henderson and Son of the Wellington Nursery, St. John's Wood, London — who 

 very obligingly furnished our artist with the specimen from which our figure was 

 drawn — have also introduced a striking variety, of a deep rich crimson, and dwarf 



