THE ELOEAL WORLD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 365 



the shoots shortened, cutting out some of the weakly ones, and it 

 received no water at the roots for some ten days, and was placed in 

 a cool airy position. It was now returned to the house in which it 

 was previously grown, freely supplied with water at the root, and 

 received the same attention as to pegging down the shoots, with 

 the view of equalizing the growth. The weather being now warm, 

 the lights were entirely drawn off on bright hot forenoons, but they 

 were replaced early in the afternoon, after syringing, thus maintain- 

 ing a moist growing atmosphere at night, and whenever it could be 

 done, avoiding, at the same time, the etiolating effects of a hot shady 

 situation. The buds broke very freely under this treatment, and 

 strong short-jointed shoots were produced. In July it bloomed a 

 second time, when it produced ninety-two spikes. It was removed 

 to the flower-house, and managed, after the decay of the flowers, as 

 last time, and, when rested, placed in a mild bottom-heat. The only 

 different treatment observed this time was to feed the plant with 

 clear weak manure water, which was rendered necessary through 

 the pot having become full of roots, and the soil somewhat exhausted ; 

 and, as a matter of course, the lights were not removed when the 

 weather became so cool as to render this unnecessary. In September 

 the plant produced 156 heads of bloom, in which state it was 

 exhibited. The soil used was rich fibry peat and loam, in about 

 equal proportions, well mixed with sharp gritty sand, and a slight 

 sprinkling of bone-dust. Young plants grow so rapidly that, except 

 in the event of a large specimen being wanted in bloom early in the 

 season, it is never worth while to winter large plants. Were it 

 desirable to do so, this plant might be kept growing and blooming 

 the whole season round. But the flowers do not colour well in 

 winter, and it is impossible at that season to afford the amount of 

 air necessary to have compact good specimens. 



SELAGO DISTANS. 



|F this plant bloomed in spring or early summer, it would 

 probably soon disappear from our collections, for the 

 peculiar odour of its foliage is not agreeable to many 

 persons, and the flowers being destitute of colour, are 

 not particularly striking ; but, notwithstanding these 

 little faults, the plant is likely to be long a favourite. Its easy cul- 

 ture, free habit of blooming, and the length of time which the plants 

 remain in beauty during the dull senson, fully entitle it to be con- 

 sidered one of the most useful for winter decoration in cultivation. 

 Cuttings rooted early in spring, and treated rather closely during 

 the summer, will form nice sized specimens, and bloom profusely 

 from the middle of November to the end of January ; but persons 

 who wish large specimens, and those with little accommodation for 

 growing the plants rapidly, will probably find it better to propagato 

 them, and get them well established in five-inch pots the previous 

 season. Firm bits of the young wood planted in sandy, peaty soil,. 



December. 



