OX THE CULTURE OF PSIDIUM CATTLEIANUM. 81 



(with a sliding light,) standing on the leaf or tan hed of the stove, 

 the plants will start into growth almost immediately ; and the 

 subsequent culture will consist of repotting into a rather more 

 loamy soil from time to time, giving plenty of water, and some air. 

 In the stove, with the above precautions, this Guava will be in 

 perfect health at any temperature between 48 degs. and 110 degs. 

 Nothing seems to hurt it but cold, during the first winter. I 

 have given six or eight plants to friends ; and have now by me 

 three fine ones in my stove, which were exposed among green- 

 house plants all the summer, and stood out, surrounded by a fence 

 of Laurels, till November. One plant is now in the cold frame, 

 where its leaves are firm, though tinted with a reddish brown, 

 while those in the stove are verdant and growing. 



Two shew flower and fruit; and they might have done so, and 

 been superlatively beautiful, months before, had I shortened them 

 in due time. One was a yard high, with a kw lateral shoots at 

 the bottom : I cut it back in December, and it immediately threw 

 out several axillary, fruit-bearing shoots. Let the plant, then, be 

 cut off, one-third of its height, when it is about a foot high ; and 

 multitudes of fine pendent laterals will be sent out, while the lead 

 is continued from the uppermost bud. I believe that a very young 

 plant, glowing in a pot of rich loamy soil, scarcely 5 in. broad at 

 the top and 6 in. deep, may be made to produce abundance of 

 flowers and fruit. 



The Guava may also be quickly raised by cuttings in very 

 sandy earth, also in water during the hottest months : the half- 

 ripened wood ought to be selected. 



In the Limuean system, Psidium is found in class 12, order I, 

 Icosandria Monogynia. Its calyx is cleft into 5 divisions. The 

 petals are five, white. Stamens inserted in the calyx. Berry 

 pulpy — inferior. Seeds many. Cotyledons rccify ; they rise 

 fust, and appear like little weeds. The radicle, or first emitted 

 root, is bent in the figure of a bow (arcuate). The leaves of this 

 species are opposite, oval, rather pointed, firm in texture, shining; 

 altogether they form a beautiful object. 



01 the plants which I raised, some (as 1 have observed) occupy 

 wry different situations with in.- ; and I have seen others in the 

 enhotlM and the vinery. Every circumstance attached to the 

 plant tends to recommend it to notice. G. I. T. 



91th. i-it/t, [890. 



Vol.. 111. || 



