150 ON THE CULTIVATION OF GLOXINIAS. 



ARTICLE III. — On the Cultivation of Gloxinias. By 

 G. H. 



Perceiving in page 422, of the December Number, that a Cor- 

 respondent writes for information on the Growth and Preservation 

 of Gloxinia speciosa, and G. maculate, and as I have grown and 

 flowered them for several years, with little trouble and great suc- 

 cess, induces me to offer a few remarks on the method I pursue, 

 which if adopted by your Correspondent, I have not the least 

 doubt but what he will be perfectly satisfied, and enabled to keep 

 his plants through winter with great success. 



In the first place, as Mr. D.'s plants are fast perishing from 

 injudicious management, I would recommend him to turn out the 

 plants, and shake the whole of the mould from their roots, dropping 

 off" all the roots which appear to be inactive ; then repot them into 

 48-sized pots, laying at the bottom of each pot one potsherd and then 

 small cinders, to the depth of two inches ; put on a little compost 

 upon the cinders and insert the plants ; do not. plant them deep, 

 nor yet press the compost too close ; remove them into the house, 

 give no water for several days, and when it is required it must be 

 in a tepid state and in small quantities. With the above method the 

 plants will be preserved through winter, and I recommend cut- 

 tings to be taken off in March. Gloxinias are readily increased 

 by planting the leaves in clear white sand ; but cuttings taken off 

 about two joints in length makes the best plants for blooming, and 

 in much less time than by planting the leaves. Take off the 

 leaves from the two lower joints and insert them up to the third 

 joint in sand and peat; plant them singly into 60-sized pots, and 

 plunge them into a good brisk bottom and lop heat : with judicious 

 management, in three weeks, the cuttings will have filled the pots 

 with roots, when they must be carefully removed into 48-sized 

 pots with their balls as entire as possible. The compost I find 

 Gloxinias to grow and bloom the best in, is turfy loam and peat, 

 with a good drainage of cinders, &c. The plants when potted, 

 may be removed into the house to bloom. Water them once a 

 week, during summer, with strong manure water, and as often as 

 is necessary with pure .soft water. Great care is required in water- 

 ing pot plants ; hundreds of plants are lost during the winter sea- 

 son, for want of proper attention in watering and draining. Some 



