154 HOT-HOUSE OF REPOTTING, ETC. [May. 



Bletias, a genus of about eight species, all beautiful flow- 

 ering plants. B. Tanker vill ice. is most superb, a small plant, 

 now (Jan), in bloom, has upward of fifty full-blown flowers, 

 besides many buds they are brown, white, and purple, and 

 about two inches in diameter. When out of flower, and the 

 roots become dormant, place the pots in a shady situation ; 

 allow the soil to become dry, until the roots begin to grow : 

 as soon as this is observed, repot the plants and expose them 

 fully to the sun, giving plenty of water while growing. B. 

 Shepherdii is a fine pink, and requires similar treatment. 

 (Soil No. 18.) 



Bignonia, a very beautiful family of climbing plants, some 

 of them gorgeously covered with bloom half of the year. B. 

 venustd has large clusters of bright orange-coloured flowers in 

 great profusion from December to May. B. picta, violet and 

 lilac-coloured striped flowers. B. chamlerlyana, yellow 

 flowers with rich foliage. 



They should be planted into large pots or tubs, or if prac- 

 ticable, into the ground, in the interior of the house, giving 

 them plenty of space to climb, using soil No. 9. 



Brunfelsias, very fine, free-flowering plants, with white, 

 yellowish, or purple flowers. B. grandiflbra blooms freely, 

 and is finely scented a plant before me now (28th of Jan), 

 only one foot high, has six full expanded flowers upon it, each 

 fully two inches in diameter. (Soil No. 9.) 



Buonapdrtea jtincea, a very curious low-growing plant, 

 with long narrow, recurved, round leaves ; with spikes of 

 small green flowers. There does appear to be three distinct 

 varieties in cultivation, but are rarely attainable. (Soil No. 

 12.) 



IMddlea madagascariensis blooms profusely during winter 

 in spikes of orange-coloured flowers, of a kind of honey fra- 

 grance the plant is strong-growing, and of the easiest culture. 

 (Soil No. 11.) 



Calathea zebrina, frequently known as mardnta zebr\na ; 

 it is a plant unique in appearance, having large elongated 

 ovate leaves, beautifully striped with green and dark pur- 

 ple, and called the Zebra plant. It has light blue flowers 

 in ovate spikes, about the size of large pine cones. It is 

 an herbaceous plant ; but in the warmest part of the hot- 

 house retains its splendid foliage ; requires a very liberal 



