324 GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 



and, amongst them all, the varieties which we have had 

 the good fortune to produce stand unequalled. Some 

 flowers of these varieties measure two inches and a-half across 

 the limh, the colour a rich clear magenta, and deep orange 

 eye, beautifully fringed at the edges ; the white variety is 

 equally large and well fringed, the pure white prettily con- 

 trasted with the rich orange-coloured eye, and they have the 

 good property of forming tolerably long flower spikes, so that 

 all the blooms stand well up above the foliage. Since the 

 publication of the last edition of this work, the varieties of 

 this lovely plant have been greatly increased. We refer to such 

 gems as coccinea, rubra magnifica, alba magnifica, Gliiswich 

 Red, ruhro violacea, Queen of the Whites, &c., which we have 

 had the good fortune to introduce. The fern-leaved varieties 

 are also very handsome, and produce very fine flowers of 

 various shades ; and it frequently occurs that some fine 

 double-flowered forms are also produced in this way. There 

 is another variety of this plant called P. kermesina, which, 

 on account of its bright rosy carmine flowers, is very 

 desirable. These varieties are obtained from seed every 

 year, and for autumn flowering some seed should be sown 

 in March and April; for later blooming, June and July. 

 The seed should be sown upon some leaf mould and well- 

 decomposed manure, in pots filled to within about half an 

 inch of the top ; the surface of the soil should be left some- 

 what rough, and the seed sprinkled upon it, and instead of 

 covering with soil, tie a piece of paper over the pot, and place 

 in gentle heat. The paper only should he watered ; this will 

 give sufficient moisture, and prevent the seeds being washed 

 away, and will not subject them to the siidden extremes of 

 drought and moisture, which is so fatal to these plants at the 

 time of germination (this being unheeded by many, leads 

 them to condemn the quality of the seeds) ; we have also 



