232 THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



mature the tubers. When the soil becomes quite dry and the foliage 

 decayed, it should be cut off down to the surface of the soil, and pots 

 should be placed on a dry shelf secure from fro9t, where they may 

 remain until required for the following season. The soil most suitable 

 for the growth of the Achimenes is, equal parts sandy loam, peat, 

 and well-decomposed cow-dung, adding a liberal supply of sharp 

 clean sand. The loam and peat should be broken into small pieces, 

 the cow-dung sifted, and all well mixed together previous to use. 



THYRSACANTHUS RUTILANS. 



uLTHOUGII this plant is not likely to be a favourite 

 where only dense compact specimens are looked upon 

 as worth cu^ivation, it is, nevertheless, a very useful 

 plant for wiiicer flowering, and will, doubtless, be largely 

 grown for this purpose. The bright scarlet tube-shaped 

 flowers are produced for months in succession on drooping spikes, 

 some two or three feet long, which look interesting, and form a fine 

 contrast with other plants. So far as my experience goes, however, 

 there is no possibility of inducing it to form a compact, well-fur- 

 nished specimen, for if stopped to the extent necessary to do this, 

 it loses its leaves, and refuses to grow at all. But this is of very 

 little importance, as if a large busby specimen could be grown, the 

 flower-spikes, except those from the outside shoots, would not be 

 seen to any advantage. 



Cuttings planted in sandy, peaty soil, covered with a bell-glass, 

 and planted in a sharp bottom-heat, soon emit roots, and if these are 

 put in early in spring they will form nice plants for flowering next 

 winter. The cuttings should be potted singly as soon as they are 

 well rooted, and placed in a close, moist, warm pit, or house, till 

 well established ; and if they can be afforded a gentle bottom-heat, 

 this will greatly assist in promoting the emission of roots, and in- 

 ducing full growth. The young plants must never be allowed to 

 suffer for the want of pot room, as this tends to make them even 

 more leggy than they are naturally inclined to be ; therefore, until 

 the plants are in their flowering pots, attend to shifting before the 

 balls get over-matted with roots. The best situation for the young 

 plants during the growing season is a pit, or house, where they can 

 be kept rather warm, close, and moist ; and if they can be afforded 

 a gentle bottom-heat, this will be of great service in promoting 

 vigorous rapid growth. A slight shade will be necessary on the 

 forenoons of bright, hot days, and the plants should be sprinkled 

 over-head morning and evening in fine weather, affording them a 

 liberal but careful supply of water at the root, and giving weak 

 manure-water occasionally to those that have well filled their pots 

 with roots. Beyond keeping the centre shoot secured to a stake, 

 very little good can be done in the way of training or stopping, for 

 the plant never seems to grow freely or with any vigour, except 

 when one shoot is allowed to take a decided lead of the others. 



