GLOXINIA. 135 



let them remain dormant until spring-. In the month of 

 March, it will be necessary to shake the dirt from them, 

 and repot into one of five inches, with a good drainage; 

 let the soil be such as you can procure from some ra- 

 vine in the woods, composed of rotten wood and leaves, 

 intermixed with the sediments washed from stones, which 

 form like sand ; the bulbs should be planted nearly on a 

 tevei with the soil. 



These plants are found on the margin of woods, in their 

 native country, and we should imitate their nature in soil 

 and habit as near as possible, to induce them to flower pro- 

 fusely. After being potted, it will be found necessary to be 

 careful in giving them water, until several leaves are 

 formed ; then you may occasionally water over the foliage 

 until the flowers begin to show, which will be about the 

 last of May. If a small portion of guano were mixed 

 with the water, I have no doubt benefit would result in 

 making the plants more vigorous, and the flowers more 

 strikingly beautiful. 



The cultivation of flowers prompts us to endeavor to 

 find the easiest mode of propagation. The following will 

 be advantageous to beginners : By sowing seeds, if the 

 flowers are impregnated, we raise new varieties ; when 

 these varieties are fine, either in color, shape, or size, then 

 we commence propagating them ; and what is singular in 

 the Gloxinia is, that if you plant any part of the leaf, pro- 

 vided the rib in the middle be attached, it will soon form 

 itself into a bulb, and make a good flowering plant the 

 next season. It also seeds freely, and ere long we shall b 

 furnished with catalogues as lengthy as those of the Fuch- 

 sia. This plant does not in reality require so much atten- 



