1 14 Notes and Gleanings. 



now is. This fruit may be grown pretty well under trees where most every 

 thing else refuses to give any returns ; so that it cannot be called difficult in re- 

 gard to location. It prefers a cold moist soil rather than a dry one, and, in many 

 locations, is greatly benefited by liberal mulching. Brother fruit-grower, please 

 take hold of this matter of raspberry-growing with renewed zeal and courage. 



Culture of Hoya bella. — Of the several species of this genus, none is 

 more worthy of careful cultivation than the subject of the present notice. It 

 requires a free, porous soil, composed of loam and turfy peat, the latter chopped 

 up with the spade, or broken with the hand, but not sifted ; one-fourth leaf-mould ; 

 and as much white or silver sand as will give the whole a grayish appearance. 

 In this compost the plant will grow luxuriantly, and produce its lovely wax-like 

 flowers in profusion. The pot must be carefully and efficiently drained, as a 

 sour soil occasioned by an undue retention of moisture is extremely detrimental 

 to the plant. Bits of broken bricks and lime-rubbish form a superior drainage ; 

 and, if a handful of the latter is mixed up with the soil at the time of potting, all 

 the better. 



During its season of active growth, the Hoya bella delights in a moisture- 

 laden atmosphere, and a temperature of 70° and upwards. With plenty of moisture 

 in the air, only a very limited supply will be required at the roots ; and hence the 

 moist atmosphere of the plant-stove or orchid-house is that most congenial to 

 the habits of the plant. In a well-managed vinery, however, the plant may be 

 pretty successfully cultivated. If grown in the stove or any other glass structure 

 where a high, moist temperature is steadily maintained, the plant should be 

 removed to a dryer and somewhat cooler atmosphere ; say, one with a tempera- 

 ture of 65°, when the flowers are on the eve of expanding. The blooming season 

 will thus be very much prolonged ; the high, moist temperature of the stove 

 speedily causing the flowers to drop off. 



In order to secure a proper ripening of the wood, a late autumn growth should 

 not be encouraged ; but, if the plant has been kindly treated during summer, this 

 important result will, in general, have been pretty well accomplished by the time 

 its blooming season is over. In winter, it should be accorded a dry shelf pretty 

 close to the glass, where the temperature ranges from 55° to 60°. 



When grown as a specimen pot-plant, it is not unfrequently trained to a bal- 

 loon-shaped wire trellis ; and, for certain purposes, it suits very well. It is also 

 occasionally used to cover the end wall of a stove ; but, if we are desirous of 

 showing flower and leaf to the greatest advantage, it should be plunged in a 

 wicker basket of moss, and suspended from the roof of the stove or vinery. It 

 here assumes a semi-pendent habit, and has an extremely graceful appearance. 



Almost the only management which the plant requires is to pinch the points 

 of the leading shoots or branches during the growing season, so as to induce the 

 production of laterals, and thereby secure a bushy habit. If this pinching be 

 duly attended to, a severe knife-pruning will rarely be necessary. Early in 

 spring, the plant should be top-dressed or repotted, as may be necessary, and 

 then placed in moist heat, and treated as above directed. It is propagated 

 from cuttings, which root freely in moist heat. 



