HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 49 



GARDENIA FORTUNI. 



Among the different species now in cultivation of this highly 

 fragrant and favorite genus, none perhaps possesses more especial 

 claims on our notice than this fine plant. Its beautiful double 

 flowers, measuring from three to four inches across, of the purest 

 white, embosomed in its fine glossy foliage, are exceedingly attrac- 

 tive, each blossom forming, as it were, a bouquet in itself. This 

 species is one of rapid growth ; and under good management, large 

 bushy specimens may be obtained in a comparatively short time. 

 Unlike the other double-flowering kinds, it^blooms once only^in each 

 season ; but as it continues for some time in flower, a few succes- 

 sion-plants will suffice to prolong the blooming period through a 

 considerable portion of the summer. 



The propagation of this plant is most easily effected by cuttings 

 of half-ripened shoots of the young wood taken off with a heel, 

 cut smoothly over, and inserted in silver sand in a w r ell drained pot, 

 and afterwards plunged in a gentle bottom-heat, and covered with 

 a bell-glass ; five or six weeks will generally suffice for , their be- 

 coming well rooted, when they may be potted off singly into 4-inch 

 pots, and again placed in heat. Supposing the cuttings to have 

 been taken in June or July, the young plants, when well established, 

 may receive a second moderate shift, and be continued in growing 

 heat, as before; car3 should, however, be taken not to keep them 

 growing too late in the season, as that prevents the ripening of 

 the wood before the dark days of November comes on. When the 

 plants cease growing, they should be removed to a cooler situation 

 for the winter. A temperature of 45° to 50° will suffice during 

 their period of rest, at which time water should be sparingly but 

 judiciously given them when required. 



Presuming plants have by this means been provided, or a young 

 healthy stock obtained from the nursery about the beginning of 

 March, the best should be selected and plunged in a gentle bottom- 

 heat, in a temperature of from 60' p to 65°, to start them into growth; 

 when this commences they should, if in good health, receive a 

 liberal shift — say from a 5-inch to a 9-inch pot, care being taken 

 to remove any impure soil, and to gently disentangle the matted 

 roots, without destroying the ball more than is necessarv. After 



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