December 17. 1S90. 



Garden and Forest. 



609 



soil, were the conditions under which this plant grew so 

 well at Kevv. In pots the leaves are apt to get damaged, 

 or to turn yellow toward the apex. Every- year since its 

 introduction this Streptocarpus has been a prominent 

 feature in the Succulent House at Kew. So far as experi- 

 ence here has gone it is not worth while trying to save the 

 plants after ihey have flowered. By sowing seeds every 

 year a succession of young plants is easily maintained. 



probably the finest Streptocarpus we have, is that called 

 S. Waisoni. It has several large green leaves about twice 

 the size of S. Re.xii, and many flowered scapes of Pent- 

 stemon-like flowers, which are colored a rich rosy crimson 

 with darker mottled lines in the throat. This hybrid has 

 so far proved sterile with its own pollen, although it pro- 

 duces seeds when the pollen of some other kind is used. 

 It can only be perpetuated by means of leaf-cuttings or by 





Fig. 81. — Streptocarpus Dunnii, half natural size. — See page 608. 



By crossing 6". Dunnii with several other species some 

 interesting and pretty-flowered hybrids have been obtained 

 at Kew. The first were named S. Kewensis (from 5". Duti- 

 m'z'and 5". Rexii) and .S. Waisoni (from 6". Dunnii and 6". 

 luted). These were figured and described in the Gardeners' 

 Chronicle in 18S7. Other crosses from these and 6". Saun- 

 dersii have since been raised, while by crossing the 

 hybrids with each other and their parents a large number 

 of forms, showing considerable range of variety in color 

 and habit, have been the result. The showiest of all, and 



crossing its parents. By this latter method a good supply 

 of seeds may easily be had, and the plants from them show- 

 scarcely any difference from that first flowered, except, 

 perhaps, slightly in the shade of color. Many of the latest 

 crosses which have flowered this year at Kew are of con- 

 siderable promise. By crossing and selecting from the 

 best of these plants it is probable that in a few years we 

 shall obtain a race of Streptocarpi which, in a greenhouse, 

 will fill as large a place as the Gloxinia now does in the stove. 



Kew. W. 



