174 HOT-HOUSE OF REPOTTING, &C. [May. 



is truly the most magnificent of all the tropical plants we 

 have ever seen ; from December to April it is crowned with 

 flowers, surrounding which, are bright scarlet whorls of 

 bractese, frequently measuring twenty-two inches in dia- 

 meter. To grow it to such perfection, we treat it as fol- 

 lows : in April we cut the young wood down to within two 

 inches of the wood of the preceding year, and reduce the 

 ball of earth, putting it into a smaller pot. About the end 

 of May we plant it in the open ground, in light rich soil, 

 giving it one of two waterings after planting. During 

 summer it will grow three or four feet ; about the end of 

 September, it is carefully lifted and potted into a large- 

 sized pot, and put into the hot-house, carefully shading it 

 for a few days when it requires no more attention except 

 a regular supply of water, and to be kept in a temperature 

 of from 55 to 75. There is also a pale yellow bracteced 

 variety; but we are not aware of its being for sale in this 

 country. When the plant is grown in pots during sum- 

 mer, it must be repotted every month to encourage its 

 rapid growth. (Soil No. 18.) 



Polyspbra axilldris, once called Camellia axillaris, 

 though in appearance it has no characteristic of a Camellia, 

 and has been frequently killed in the green-house by being 

 too cold for its nature ; leaves oblong, obovate, toward the 

 extremity serrulate. The leaves on the young wood are 

 entire. Flowers white; petals a little notched. It is 

 worthy of a situation in every collection. (Soil No. 11.) 



Pterospermum, five species of plants that have very 

 curiously constructed flowers, of a white colour, and fra- 

 grant; the foliage is of a brown rusty nature, and, before 

 expansion, silvery-like. P. suberifolium is in several of 

 our collections, and esteemed. P. semisagittatum has 

 fringed bractsea ; leaves oblong, acuminate, entire, sagittate 

 on one side. (Soil No. 11.) 



Rhdpis, a genus of palms that will grow very freely with 

 heat and room at the roots. R.flabelliformis is an erect 

 growing palm, with a spreading head. It is a native of 

 China. (Soil No. 12.) 



Rondeletia speciosa is a new and rare plant, in every re- 

 spect equal, if not superior, to Ixora coccinea; its large 

 corymbs of orange-red flowers have a very striking appear- 





