ON STOVE PLANTS. 64 1 



draw up the blinds when the weather becomes cloudy, to 

 prevent the plants from becoming drawn and weak. 



Flowering Plants. 



From the wealth of species and varieties of stove flowering 

 plants we shall make what we consider a selection of the most 

 popular and best for general cultivation. In some cases we 

 know where so many plants of intrinsic beauty and attraction 

 offer their claims on our attention, it will be somewhat difficult 

 to decide what old friends to leave out of the list. We shall, 

 however, make the selection as varied as possible, and include 

 those which, not by their rarity alone, but by their real merit, 

 are deserving of cultivation, and such as are readily obtainable 

 and to be found in current trade catalogues of the firms making 

 these plants a speciality. 



Achimenes. — A genus 01 favourite ornamental perennials with 

 showy, bright-coloured flowers, natives of Central and South 

 America. The species and varieties are now very numerous, 

 with a great variety of shades, most of which are pretty and 

 attractive. They have tuberous roots covered with small scales, 

 and it is from these that the plants are chiefly propagated. Cuttings, 

 however, strike freely, and new varieties are raised from seed. A 

 moist, well-drained soil, consisting of equal parts of peat, loam, 

 and leaf-mould, with a little manure and sand, not too firmly 

 pressed, suits their requirements, and they may be grown in 

 pots, pans, or baskets. The tubers may be planted just 

 under the surface, in batches, from January to April, keeping 

 the pots in a light, warm situation, near the glass, to prevent the 

 young growths from becoming drawn and weak. Water sparingly 

 at first, but freely when well rooted. Attend to staking and 

 tying when the plants are a few inches high. After the flowering 

 season gradually withhold water and keep the roots dry and warm 

 throughout the winter until it is desirable to start them into fresh 

 growth. When growing, a temperature of between 6odeg. and 

 7Sdeg. is suitable for Achimenes ; and when at rest 5odeg., with 

 the pots turned on their sides in a dry place. Some grand 

 varieties are : Admiration, Ambroise Verschaffelt, Baumannii, 

 Carl Woolfarth, Diadem, Estelle, Firefly, Grandiflora, Harry 

 Williams, Lady Lyttelton, Longiflora Major, Mauve Queen, 

 Pardusa, Rosea Magnifica, Scarlet Perfection, and Venusta. 



Alchmea fulgens (Fig. 412) is a valuable decorative plant, 

 producing coral-red and violet flowers, which last a long time in 

 perfection. It is an epiphytal plant, growing on trees in the 

 South American forests, but is easily cultivated in pots in a 

 compost of fibrous loam, rough peat, and leaf-mould in equal 

 proportions, if liberally supplied with water. Increased by suckers 

 planted in small pots. A. Maria Regmce, from Costa Rica, is 



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