STOVE FLOWERING PLANTS. 



FKANCISCEA. 



This is a beautiful genus of dwarf shrubs from Brazil, 

 which are not so often met with in collections as they should 

 be. They produce an abundance of pretty sweet-scented 

 flowers at different times during the season, and are grown 

 to perfection in a moderate stove temperature. F. cahjcina 

 major and F. confeiiiliora are the best for exhibition. The 

 plants must be kept closely pinched when young, to form 

 a proper foundation for exhibition specimens ; afterwards 

 they are easily kept in shape by an annual pruning at the 

 time they have done flowering. They should be re-potted 

 every year in equal parts of fibry peat and loam, with about 

 one-fourth of silver sand, making the whole firm in the pot. 



GAKDENIA. 



This useful genus of free-flowering plants combines the 

 qualities of beauty, fragrance, and profusion of flowers which 

 have made it a popular favourite. Among the best for 

 exhibition are G. florida intermecUa, G. f. Fortuneana, and 

 (t. vadicans major. The short-jointed shoots and shrubby 

 nature of the plant makes it easily grown into a fine compact 

 specimen. It thrives best in a mixture of equal parts sandy 

 loam and peat, with silver sand and leaf-soil ; but well-rotted 

 manure and bone-meal should be added to the soil when re- 

 potting specimen plants. It requires a moist and high tem- 

 perature to make its growth, which should be gradually toned 

 down as the plants come into flower. The Gardenia is very 

 subject to the attack of insects, and should be syringed witli 

 soap- water to which has been added a gill of paraffin to the 

 gallon. An excellent preventative for red spiders is to place 

 over the plunging material a layer of stable manure, which 

 should be kept moist. As soon as the buds are set, weak 

 liquid manure with some soot dissolved in it should be given 

 once a week, to increase the size of the flowers, and give a dark, 

 healthy gloss to the leaves. 



