length of about twelve inches, the flowers are arranged in a somewhat two-ranked 
fashion, the colour being a lively crimson, suffused with purple. It continues 
blooming for a considerable time if shielded from damp, or sprinklings from the 
syringe. 
In our former volumes we have already given our subscribers advice respecting 
the management of the Comparettias, and we may here state that we have nothing to 
add or retract from that, as we cannot find any better system for their cultivation. 
They may be grown either in baskets or in pans suspended from the roof where 
they get plenty of light but where they may be shaded from the hottest sun. 
They do not require much soil about their roots, but this must be kept thoroughly 
sweet and fresh, as stagnation of any sort about their roots will speedily end in 
death, therefore, let the drainage be of the freest, and the soil should consist of 
good fibrous peat and living sphagnum moss. Although these plants are considered 
somewhat delicate they may be grown successfully with care. They do not like to 
be disturbed, so that when doing well allow them to remain, and in renewing the 
peat and moss about them, pick it out carefully from amongst the roots, and 
replace the fresh with equal care. They require a liberal supply of water during 
the period of growth, and although during autumn and winter the quantity should 
be curtailed, they must never be allowed to become dry for any length of time, 
but should be kept moist, which will correspond with their surroundings in a state 
of nature, where, in their resting season, they enjoy the moisture from the heavy 
dews at night, and thus their bulbs and foliage are kept in a plump and vigorous 
condition; if this is not maintained under cultivation the plants will soon dwindle 
and die. 
Comparettias are not easily propagated. We have before observed they dislike 
being cut or disturbed in any way; but if it is desirable to divide them, and the 
plants are sufficiently large to do so with safety, the best time to perform the 
operation is just as they are starting to grow, but the plants should be in 
vigorous health at the time. ; 
These plants should be kept strictly clean. Insects should be diligently sought. 
for and destroyed, for these small plants will soon show signs of distress.  Cock- 
roaches and other pests must be well kept under, if not possible to entirely 
exterminate them. They are voracious feeders upon the roots of these plants, and 
every root destroyed materially weakens the plant . 
