394 GENERAL REVIEW. 



carefully dividing large established clumps, while seed ger- 

 minates freely if procurable. The bulbous species of Bulbo- 

 codium and Colchicum are readily propagated by seeds sown on 

 pans of sandy earth as soon as ripe or in the following spring, 

 and placed in a warm frame to vegetate. Offsets or division 

 of large clumps affords another way of multiplying these beauti- 

 ful plants. 



THE BERTOLONIA FAMILY (Melastomacea}. 



A large order of tropical plants, many of which are grown in 

 our gardens for decorative purposes. De Candolle remarks of 

 this group as follows : " Although composed entirely of exotic 

 plants, and established at a period when but few species were 

 known, it is so well characterised that no one has ever thought 

 of putting any part of it in any other group, or even introducing 

 into it genera that do not rightly belong to it." The distinctive 

 characters of Melastomads are the opposite and generally three- 

 nerved leaves, the veins running from the base to the apex, 

 and the curious long-beaked anthers. The principal genera 

 cultivated are Centradema, Lasiandra, Pleroma, Melastoma, 

 Monochczton, Rhexia, Medinilla, Bertolonia, Sonerila, SpJmro- 

 gyne, Phyllagathis, Cyanophyllum, Platycentrium, and others. 

 Nearly all the species are readily multiplied from cuttings of 

 the young or partially-hardened growth, while leaf-cuttings are 

 successful, especially in the case of Phyllagathis, Sonerila, Ber- 

 tolonia, and some species of Medinilla. Layers and circum- 

 vallation are successful methods in particular cases the last- 

 named process being handy, in order to secure the tops of old 

 specimens of Cyanophyllum and Sphcerogyne. But little has 

 been done by hybridisers in this group, notwithstanding which 

 the few results obtained have been remarkably beautiful, notably 

 the hybrid Bertolonias of M. Van Houtte and the Somrilas of 

 Messrs E. G. Henderson & Son. These triumphs ought to 

 stimulate others, especially when we consider what handsome 

 species might serve as a groundwork of the hybridist's experi- 

 ments. Fancy the lovely purple flowers of Lasiandra macrautha 

 borne on a good-habited plant like Pleroma elegans ! Then, 

 again, the Monochcetons would doubtless give a beautiful race of 

 hybrid decorative plants. Seeds are rarely borne by these 

 plants unless the flowers are artificially fertilised ; but when ob- 

 tainable, they germinate very readily sown on a pan of light leaf- 

 mould and sand placed in a genial bottom-heat of 70 to 80. 

 A pane of glass or a piece of brown paper should be placed 

 over the pan to prevent undue evaporation. The sexual organs 



