348 florists' flowbes. 



full beauty a considerable time, they well repay any attention 

 bestowed upon them. The plant is a native of the East 

 Indies. 



Calceolabia. 



This genus, called Slipperwort, belongs to the Scrophu- 

 lariacecB, and may be divided into two sections — the Herba- 

 ceous or Florists' Flowers, and Shrubby or Bedding kinds. 

 Seeds of the Herbaceous kinds should be sown in July and 

 August, in pans well drained and nearly filled with rough 

 turfy loam, making up the surface with fine sifted mould and 

 silver sand. Water the soil with a fine rose, and immediately 

 sow the seed, no covering of earth being required. Place 

 the pans under a hand-glass or in a cold frame, and carefully 

 exclude them from exposure to the sun. When the seedlings 

 are strong enough, prick them off into pans, and place them 

 in a close situation. When large enough pot off singly, and 

 put them upon a shelf near the glass in an airy greenhouse. 

 Eaising plants from seed every year is far preferable to in- 

 creasing the stock by cuttings. It was quite necessary to 

 resort to that practice some years ago ; but the race of 

 Herbaceous Calceolarias we now have in cultivation is so very 

 fine, that it is labour wasted to trouble with cuttings, as the 

 great majority of the plants from a batch of seed will prove 

 all that can be desired. The soil for growing them should 

 be composed of three parts rich light loam and sand, about 

 two parts good leaf mould, and the remainder well-decayed 

 sheep manure. When well grown they are very ornamental, 

 and serve to decorate the greenhouse and conservatory just 

 at the season the hard-wooded plants are failing ; conse- 

 quently they are of double value. They are subject to 

 attacks of green fly, which must be destroyed by fumigation 

 as soon as it appears ; and if the plants are kept in a dry 



