THE STEPHAXOTIS. 



Ill 



in colour; but K. Lindleyana and Makoyana are beauti- 

 ful purple-flowered varieties. However, some of the 

 reds are, in niy estimation, of too dirty a colour. The 

 blue and white flowered kinds are beautiful ornaments 

 for the conservatory, and may be grown in pots, trained 

 on globular trellises, or up the pillars, or on the back of 

 the house. In any case due attention must be paid to 

 the thinning out and keeping the plants open, so as 

 to get all the air and sunshine possible into them, in 

 order to ripen the wood. They flower on the laterals 

 which spring from well-ripened wood. The pruning 

 consists of shortening in these laterals every autumn, 

 in order to obtain good flowers the ensuing season. 



The Stephanotis. 



This is a very limited genus, containing but one or 

 two varieties, S. Floribunda being the only one worth 

 growing ; although I believe there are two varieties of 

 this, one of them being a shy flowerer. It is a stone 

 climber, with thick leathery ovate leaves something 

 like those of the Laurel, though not so large. It is a 

 great favourite with those persons who cultivate cut 

 flowers. 



The flowers are white, and are produced freely upon 

 the well-ripened wood ; that is, if the growth is well 

 ripened during the previous season, it will produce 

 laterals which will give an abundance of flowers. 



The pruning consists in cutting away the worn-out 

 wood, and training in the well -ripened young wood, 

 carefully thinning out the whole plant so as to admit a 

 full share of the sunshine and plenty of light, or no 

 flowers must be looked for. The time for pruning is 

 as soon as the wood is thoroughly ripened, which is 

 generally in the autumn. It is useless trying to grow 

 the Stephanotis for flowers in a dark, shady, or dirty 

 house, or one not dry and warm. Neither must it be 

 grown where trees shade the house, as is sometimes the 

 case. Sunshine, good light, and a warm, healthy 

 climate are indispensable for growing tho Stephanotis 



