42 



MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



understood, my object bein<j' to point out tlie inconvenience and confusion 

 attending the repeated changing of names, with a hope that some, who 

 have, the necessary experience and knowledge, may direct their attention 

 and labors to the subject. 



Achimenes may be either grown separately, or in masses of eight or ten 

 roots in a large pot, or, what is better, a shallow pan ; if grown singly, they 

 have a very pleasing, though not so showy appearance, as in ma^^ses. In 

 the spring, about the first of March, their little imbricated roots will show- 

 signs of returning vegetation, when they ought to be turned out of the 

 pots and the roots separated, being careful not to bruise or break them, as 

 the soil is frequently hard by being kept dry all the winter. The strongest 

 roots should be selected and carefully potted, covering them half an inch 

 or so, taking care to drain well ; four inch pots will be large enough to 

 begin with. They should be placed where they can receive plenty of light, 

 and a moist, warm atmosphere ; keep the soil moist by syringing, using 

 water ten to twenty degrees warmer than the air of the house ; this is of 

 much importance to plants growing in hot temperatures, and tends materi- 

 ally to check the ravages of insects. As soon as the pots become filled 

 with roots, they ought to be shifted to others larger, repeating it as often 

 as necessary until the plants show bloom. 



If grown in masses.their treatment is somewhat different, most gardeners 

 growing them under the one-shift system ; it is attended with less trouble, 

 and, as the roots are increased in great abundance, it is the most common 

 way of growing them, except new or scarce kinds. A little extra care is 

 necessary in the beginning not to overwater them until they get into their 

 proper leaf; — the syringe, during the first stage of their growth, will be 

 generally found sufficient. Tie them to neat stakes as they advance in 

 growth, and water liberally as they are showing bloom. A few of the 

 slender-growing kinds are well adapted for suspending in baskets from the 

 rafters, and this gives a novel and pleasing effect. They are propagated 

 easily by cuttings, and sometimes by seed, but by the root is the usual way 

 for general purposes, as they are found to increase rapidly enough to meet 

 all demands. Part of the stock of roots, by keeping them rather cool and 

 perfectly dry, may be kept dormant to the end of May, when they may be 

 potted and treated as the others. They will bloom nicely during October 

 and November, or even later, some of the new kinds, it is said, blooming 

 all winter. 



The following selection, with the exception of those marked (new), is 

 distinct and fine, and worthy of a place in every greenhouse. The new 

 kinds, many of which, it is believed, have not yet flowered in this country, 

 (their descriptions being taken from a source in which great confidence is 

 placed,) will, to use the expression of a person in speaking of his pelargo- 

 niums, "in due time make a sensation." 



Achimenes coccinea — a well known and beautiful plant, with neat 

 branching habit and bright scarlet flowers, produced in great abundance 

 from September to December. 



A. GRANDiFLORA — large rosy purple flowers, white centre. 



