IN MY LADY'S GARDEN 



from January until the end of May, in the same way (above- 

 mentioned) as gloxinia tubers, except that the stolons of 

 achimenes can be lightly covered with soil (whilst the tubers 

 of gloxinias should be nearly uncovered), and when the 

 young plants are 2 or 3 inches in height they can be placed 

 at once in their flowering pots (using a dozen plants for a 

 5-inch pot), or grown in a wire basket lined with moss, 

 when they exhibit their masses of beautiful flowers to per- 

 fection. The little plants should be placed with their heads 

 through the wires so as to cover the basket, the upper layer 

 of plants covering the soil. The compost recommended for 

 gloxinias will suit them, as well as the other gesneraceous 

 plants, and the basket should be soaked in tepid water every 

 alternate day whilst the achimenes are growing, and syringed 

 daily until the flowers expand. It is necessary to hang the 

 basket in semi-shade, too, as strong sunshine is very injurious 

 to these plants. 



Gesneras are started in the same way as achimenes, but 

 each stolon will fill a 5-inch pot, and they require no shift if 

 the soil be rich. They have very beautiful foliage in vege- 

 table velvet plush, veined and mottled with rich crimson, 

 and the erect spikes of bright blossoms they produce are in 

 many shades of red, apricot, cream, and pink. G. vivid is 

 in carmine, shading to apr t icot in the throat of the flower, 

 with dark foliage, which adds to the beauty of the blossoms ; 

 G. leitchlini is clear yellow, and G. amabilis has pure white 

 blossoms, whilst other hybrids are in various rich tints. 

 The original gesnera (cinnabarina), though brightly coloured, 

 produced smaller flowers of more spreading habit than these 

 new hybrids, which are of the neat, dwarf type, which is far 

 more desirable ; they may be started from March till June, 

 in successive groups for autumn and winter flowering, but 

 they require a minimum temperature above 55 to do well 

 after September. 



Tydasas blossom more quickly than gesneras, and are 

 easier to manage ; three corms may be placed, when started, 

 in a 5 -inch pot, and will be very effective in the greenhouse 

 in summer, continuing to produce their brilliant blossoms in 



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