418 J^otices of neio and beautiful Plants 



plant, and has annexed to the description of this species his mode 

 of cultivation, from which we extract the following as the sub- 

 stance of his remarks: — 



" Like many other valuable New Holland plants, we find it a 

 matter of difficulty to grow this species to a good natural size, 

 and at the same time handsome. The majority of the plants, from 

 some cause, not clear to us, either draw up very weakly, or, what 

 is worse, scarcely progress at all. The following are the proba- 

 ble causes which work against its successful cultivation. First, 

 being placed at too great a distance from the glass, w:hich always 

 tends to draw them up weakly; the atmosphere too close and 

 damp; the sure consequence of the want of a free circulation of 

 air or want of light. Secondly, improper soil, careless potting 

 or incautious watering. By keeping these matters in view, and 

 carefully refusing to practise either, we have succeeded in grow- 

 ing plants of this description to a degree of excellence far sur- 

 passing our expectations. The soil in general recommended is 

 an equal mixture of very sandy peat and loam; this composition, 

 for plants like those we are now speaking of, does not fully ac- 

 cord with our experience; the soil used here, will, therefore, be 

 found to differ. We select a quantity of peat, carefully avoid- 

 ing such as does not contain a good deal of fibre, or that has not 

 a considerable portion of white sand equally mixed with it, re- 

 jecting, as entirely worthless, all such as inclines to be stiff, or 

 very sandy; to this is added no more than one fourth of mellow 

 sandy loam; the whole is then carefully blended and examined, 

 and if the grains of sand are found not to touch, or nearly so, 

 throughout the whole, so as to give it a grayish cast, what more 

 sand is thought sufficient is thrown in and properly mixed up. 

 The soil is never shifted: this practice is discarded, as taking 

 out the most essential part, namely, the fibre; but after being 

 well broken up with the back and edge of the spade, what lumps 

 remain too large are reduced with the hands. Any soil naturally 

 retentive, or that inclines to become close, is always objectiona- 

 ble for them, and, in short, all hair-rooted plants." Always 

 give two inches of drainage of broken potsherds, and place the 

 plants in the green-house, as near to the glass as possible. 



" One thing," Mr. Paxton states, "that greatly accelerates 

 the growth, and tends to insure success, in cultivating these 

 plants, is to avoid setting the pots where their sides are likely to 

 be dried much by the sun; this practice materially injures the 

 young roots, which always like to be between the side of the 

 pot and the soil, and consequently sickens and weakens the plant. 



In the winter it is not the growth of the plants that is 



the cultivator's study; it is, rather, how he shall best keep them 



alive until the return of the growing season Potting is in 



general looked upon as of minor importance, but the truth is, a 



