1853.] THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. 295 



>f 



y«n growing atmosphere, where they will receive abundance of light and^ 

 G° protection from the direct rays of the sun during the summer months, " 

 / and also guarded against the attacks of insects, and allowed plenty of 

 pot room, they will form handsome specimens, and flower abundantly 

 during the dull months of winter. 



With respect to soil, the Luculia is not difficult to accommodate. 

 For its pot culture, 1 u c e about one-half turfy-peat, and one-half light 

 turfy-loam, adding a portion of silver sand, more or less, according to 

 the nature of the other materials. 



Those who have room for the Luculia in the conservatory border 

 will find it a most eligible plant for such a situation. But it succeeds 

 best, shaded from the direct rays of the sun from the beginning of 

 31av to the end of August; and in order to bloom it in perfection, it 

 also requires to have the house kept rather close. It will not thrive in 

 a temperature under 40° or 45°; for where the temperature does not 

 average this, the flowers are liable to damp off. Planted out, if will 

 thrive perfectly in any light soif f whether peat or loam. Jt will be 

 found to require some attention, in order to keep it clear of insects, 

 and also the same treatment with regard to stopping and cutting back, 

 as recommended for young plants ; but as it cannot receive any assist- 

 ance in the way of heat and moisture, never stop later than the middle' 

 of July. — Alpha, (of the Gardener's Chronicle.) 



» ■» — 

 REPOSE OF PLANTS. 

 A taste for the cultivation of flowers is now being sd' extensively 

 diffused, I think it would not be without its use to endeavor through 

 the medium of the ''Florist" to draw the attention of amateurs to an 

 observance of some of the more prominent laws on which are found- 

 ed the successful practice of plant cultivation. It is a well known 

 though much neglected fact that all plants must have a shorter or 

 longer period of entire rest and repose, Were the amateur to keep 

 this fact constantly in view he w T ould have much fewer losses' to re- 

 gret and a far healthier collection than is generally the case. To 

 show that this repose is necessary we have only to point to nature, 

 and ask what is it that imparts to winter it* dull and death-like ap- 

 pearance! we answer, nothing but this universal sleep of nature. If 

 the cultivator will have success he must copy nature, for he may rest 

 assured she does nothing in vain, and in proportion to the faithfulness 

 in which she is followed, will the measure of success be. It must 

 ever prove a vain and abortive course to force the growth of plants 

 when they ought to be dormant: in this state of hybernation they are 

 collecting a store of nourishment, which when the proper season ar- 

 r p rives will enable them to perform all the various functions for which < 

 Vkthey are eminently adapted. Having ascertained the truth of this ^ 



