Culture of the Solandra grmidiflbra. 413 



folia {fig. 69.) gi'ows in rows, like privet; and, 

 together with several species of acacia, and 

 other green-house plants, has stood out two 

 or three winters. 



At Pendarves's, Esq., of Pendarves, 



near Redruth, we saw a plant of £^chium 

 candicans in one of the borders of the kitchen- 

 garden (where it had been, for the last five 

 years, unprotected and uninjured by the frost), 

 which was 5 ft. high ; its branches 27 ft. in 

 circumference ; and its stem, at I ft. from the 

 ground, 6 in. diameter. Last season, it had upwards of 50 spikes 

 of flowers on it. In a level sheltered kitchen-garden, the soil 

 of which is moist, Hydrangea Hortensia grows to an incredible 

 size ; the plants having more the appearance of hay-ricks than 

 of shrubs, being immense masses, with such loads of flowers 

 on them, as to give a new feature to the garden scenery. In the 

 shrubbery I saw Polygala myrtifolia, Capraria lanceolata, and 

 several other green-house plants I have now forgotten, which 

 live out all winter uninjured. Here is a fine grotto, made of 

 Cornish diamonds, lead, zinc, copper ore, &c. Mr. Mitchison, 

 the gardener, keeps every thing in first-rate order, and is much 

 respected by all who know him. 



Exeter, Jan, 1835. 



Art. VIII. On the Culture of the Soldndra grandifibra. 

 By Mr. Thomas Symons. 



Having succeeded to my entire satisfaction in blooming the 

 Solandra grandiflora, I desire, through the medium of your 

 valuable and widely extended Magazine, to make known my 

 method of treating it. This splendid exotic, so freely pro- 

 pagated by cuttings, is to be found, perhaps, in most of our 

 stoves ; but, owing to mismanagement, its magnificent and 

 odoriferous blossoms are but too seldom brought to perfection. 

 The following mode of culture may therefore be of service to 

 some who are in the habit of reading your Magazine : — 



It is well known that the Solandra grandiflora will grow 

 many feet in height in one season, if under good cultivation, 

 and left to its native luxuriancy. When the plants under my 

 care have attained the elevation required, which is about 3^ ft., 

 I prevent them from growing higher by nipping off" the tops of 

 the shoots ; and, when the plants have arrived to the size desired, 

 all the laterals are served in the same way. By adopting this 

 mode, the plants throw out a vast number of spurs, which is a 

 great object in the cultivation of the solandra ; and the plants 

 assume a fine bushy shrub-like appearance. Early in Januaiy 



