252 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



them into growth, the balls should be considerably reduced, so as to 

 allow room for a supply of fresh soil, and a liberal allowance of 

 manure water should be afforded them as soon as the pots are mode- 

 rately filled with roots ; but it is better to be provided with young 

 plants, and to throw away those that have bloomed one season. 

 Good turfy peat and turfy sandy loam, in about equal proportions, 

 broken up into small pieces, and well incorporated with a free 

 admixture of sharp sand, form a suitable compost for this plaut ; 

 but where peat is scarce, leaf-soil may be used instead. 



HOTA BELLA. 



iO bave this charming little Hoya in perfection, it requires 

 plenty of warmth and moisture while growing, good 

 drainage, and a free, open soil. The latter should con- 

 sist of equal parts of good fibrous peat, leaf-soil, and 

 sand, well mixed together, to which may be added a 

 tolerable portion of clean potsherds, broken small, and a few pieces 

 of charcoal. The pots used should be drained from one to two inches 

 in depth, according to their size. The peat should be broken up 

 with the hand, but not sifted. Presuming that young plants are 

 obtained in spring, they should be placed in a stove or pit, where a 

 temperature of from 65° to 70 p is kept up. Under such circum- 

 stances they will grow freely, and will soon require shifting into 

 larger pots. 



Shade slightly during bright sunshine, and water when ne- 

 cessary ; but with a sufficiently moist atmosphere, and a moderate 

 use of the syringe on favourable occasions, but little will be required 

 at the roots, heavy drenches of water being prejudicial to them. As 

 they progress, the leading shoots should be stopped, in order to 

 induce the formation of more numerous branches, which should be 

 spread out and arranged so as to make a neat specimen. If by the 

 middle or end of June the plants are still growing freely, another 

 shift may be given, and the same temperature maintained. When 

 they begin to cease growing, which they should be encouraged to do 

 early in autumn, they should be placed on a shelf near the glass to 

 ripen their wood, and a drier atmosphere should be maintained; 

 they may be kept here during winter, provided the temperature is 

 not higher than 55° or 60° ; during that season just sufficient water 

 will be required to preserve the foliage in health. Early in January, 

 or a little later, as may be convenient, the plants should be cleaned, 

 top-dressed, and placed in a growing temperature as before directed, 

 keeping the atmosphere moist, to induce them to break freely. 

 When they have broken well, if large plants are desired, they may 

 be shifted and grown on ; but if intended for flowering, it is prefer- 

 able to defer shifting, as they bloom most freely when slightly pot- 

 bouDd. The Sower-buds will make their appearance as the young 

 shoots progress, and when commencing to expand, a drier at- 

 mosphere, and a somewhat cooler temperature will prolong the 



