328 General Notices. 



a pot will form a very fine specimen ; but to effect this, more care and 

 time are required than when five plants are put into a pot, and the latter 

 form largfer specimens than it is possible to obtain by having only one 

 plant. After potting, keep the atmosphere close and moist, and give very 

 little water at the root until they start into growth. When the pots are 

 moderately well filled with roots, shift into the flowering size. For single 

 specimens, 10-inch pots will be sufficiently large ; when three plants are 

 used, 12-inch pots will be necessary, and 13-inch pots in the case of five 

 plants. Keep close and moist, and carefully avoid over-watering till the 

 roots can penetrate the fresh soil. A high temperature during summer is 

 rather injurious than beneficial in the culture of this plant ; SO*" or 60* at 

 night, allowing it to range 10' or 15° higher with sun heat, will be most 

 conducive to strong vigorous growth, and the production of handsome 

 specimens. The plants should be placed near the glass, so that they may 

 receive as much light as can be afforded them, but it will be found neces- 

 sary to slightly shade them during bright sunshine, and the atmosphere 

 should be maintained in a thoroughly moist state ; but this must not be 

 effected by excluding air and close shading, otherwise the plants will as- 

 sume a sickly, drawn appearance, and the foliage will be thin and ill- 

 colored. The shoots may be neatly staked, as soon as they are high 

 enough to be liable to be broken. The stakes used may be cut off at the 

 height of about 15 inches, which will be sufficient for the support of the 

 plants ; the flower-spikes will require no support, and if the plants are kept 

 near the glass, and frequently turned round, they, too, will probably need 

 no staking, to cause them to assume the desired form. This plant has a 

 tendency, under high cultivation, to produce flower-spikes at the axils of 

 the leaves, and it will generally form a more showy specimen in this way 

 than if stopping is resorted to ; but when only one plant is used as the 

 foundation of the specimen, it may be advisable to stop once, when about 4 

 inches high. An occasional watering with clear manure-water will tend to 

 promote vigorous growth; but this will be unnecessary till the plants have 

 pretty well filled their pots with roots. 



When the blossoms begin to be developed, the plants may be removed to 

 the conservatory or greenhouse ; but they must be gradually prepared for 

 the change. Great care should be used to prevent tlieir sustaining any 

 check, and they should be guarded from currents of cold air after their 

 removal. A temperature of from 45° to 50° at night will be necessary 

 during the blooming season, if the plants are expected to increase in size 

 and beauty for some two months. 



When they show symptoms of decline, water should be gradually with- 

 held ; and when the foliage and stems die down, the pots should be placed 

 in a situation where they will be free from damp and frost ; unless the 

 tubers are well ripened, they should not be placed in a lower temperature 

 than 45°. A rich friable soil is essential to the production of fine speci- 

 mens of this Gesnera. I find light sandy turfy loam, rich fibry peat, and 

 thoroughly decomposed cow-dung, in aboUt equal portions, adding a sufli- 

 cient quantity of sharp silver sand, to insure the free percolation of water 



