10 J\ariLIAli GAIiBEX FLOirEES. 



to he floral emblems of fire-worship^ are examples of the 

 typical, or specific, or normal, or original Cra.'iHnla coccinea , 

 while the one here figured is one of its variations, for the 

 plant gives us a choice of scarlet, crimson, carmine, and 

 white flowers; but in every case the form and the habit 

 of growth are the same. 



There is not a plant in the country more worthy of the 

 attention of the amateur florist than this. To grow it well 

 a heated plant-house is absolutely necessary; but given that, 

 the rest is easy. The first requisite to success is to raise 

 a few young plants from cuttings, the best time for this 

 being July. These, being rooted in three-inch pots, may 

 be wintered in the greenhouse, where they must have plenty 

 of light, and be safe from frost and drip. Give them the 

 warmest and driest place in the house, and let them have 

 sufficient water to keep the leaves plump, for if the leaves 

 shrivel, the plants will be weakened. 



As soon as they begin to grow in spring, shift them 

 into five-inch pots. Hitherto they have been allowed to 

 grow without check, but as soon as they are nicely estab- 

 lished they should be stopped by nij^ping out the point of 

 each. The plants must be kept rather dry for a day or so 

 after this is done, because of the risk of the fleshy stem 

 decaying. As the object in promoting the piroduction of 

 side-shoots is to secure a foundation upon which to build 

 the specimen, the side-shoots must be tied out regularly, 

 and pulled down a little, but not quite horizontally. They 

 should also be allowed to grow unchecked until they are 

 quite six inches in length, because a cluster of laterals 

 round the main stem is not so much to be desired as a 

 framework of stout side-shoots. As a rule, they require 

 to be stopped twice the first season, and it is p^'ood practice 



