THE MITRARIA. 131 



The Genista. 



I have referred to this genus under the general 

 head of " Hardy Shrubs/' but have not, I think, in- 

 cluded the one I am about to speak of as a pot plant. 

 G. Ganariensis is one of our earliest and best spring 

 greenhouse plants. It produces its flowers in abund- 

 ance upon the ripened young wood. In cutting back 

 or in pruning this lovely shrub, let it be done as soon as 

 the flowering is over, and then induce a free growth 

 through the summer, frequently nipping out the points 

 of the leading shoots. 



Old plants may be severely cut back and a new 

 growth induced by stimulants, and in this way an old 

 plant may be renovated. For those who do not object 

 to the yellow colour, there is no plant grown which is 

 better adapted for early cut flowers than this. 



The Mitraria. 



Mitraria Goccinea is a fine greenhouse shrub which 

 I am convinced is hardy enough to be grown out of 

 doors in our western counties, especially about Tor- 

 quay, Exmouth, &c. It is a handsome flowering shrub, 

 bearing an abundance of gesneraceous flowers of a 

 peculiar and pendant character. If it is kept thin by 

 pruning and induced to make a good growth annually, 

 I know of no plant that will produce a more singular 

 and unique effect than this when set upon a pot turned 

 up — an inverted eight-inch one will do — set on it so as 

 to elevate the plant. This will give it the advantage of 

 showing its character when in bloom, the flowers being 

 suspended from the branches on long foot- stalks, which 

 give the whole thing a very good effect. 



The flowers are produced upon the current season's 

 growth, therefore the cutting back or the thinning of 

 the branches should be done soon after the chief bulk 

 of the flowering is over. 



