380 Notes and Gleanings. 



New Gloxinias. — Some extraordinary seedling gloxinias, as good as they 

 are entirely new in style, appeared at the Paris Exhibition, during the year 1867. 

 They have sprung from a seedling of M. Vallerand's, spotted in a way that 

 reminds one of the achimenes called Ambroise Verschaftelt ; and from this 

 many exquisite varieties have sprung. No choice varieties of foxglove, or cal- 

 ceolaria, bear such handsome and delicate spotting ; wliile the improvement in 

 form is equally remarkable, — the limb of some erect varieties spreading out flat 

 and waxy till the flower looks like a dipladenia. This is particularly the case 

 with varieties having a stain of rose at the base of each limb segment, and 

 which afterwards spreads out into a rosy suffusion towards the margin. Some 

 varieties have the throat spotted ; but generally the throat is pure white, and 

 the limb regularly spotted with rose or lilac ; while a few are of a pure waxy 

 white, and with a simple stain of rose or purple or blue appearing at the base 

 of each segment of the limb. When they get into commerce, it maybe expected 

 that an increased stimulus will be given to the culture of the gloxinia. 



Vallota purpurea after Flowering. — The plant should be kept 

 rather dry at the root during the winter : in fact, give it no water so long as its 

 foliage remains fresh, which it will do in a room-window for weeks. When it is 

 growing freely, water should be given copiously, and the pot may be set in 

 a saucer of water. When it has ceased growing, lessen the supply of water ; and 

 keep the soil no more than moist whilst the plant is not in active growth. Do 

 not repot it, nor at any time give it a large pot, as it will flower much better 

 when the roots are confined than when they are allowed much soil. A compost 

 of two-thirds rather strong loam from rotten turfs, and one-third leaf-mould, with 

 a free admixture of sand, will grow it well, good drainage being provided. It 

 IS increased by offsets, which are produced around the old plant rather plenti- 

 fully. - 



