HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 125 



managed, than some of the many kinds of Franciscea. They are all hard- 

 wooded evergreen shrubs, producing a great profusion of sweet-scented flow- 

 ers, which, by means of a little judicious management, may be had in beauty 

 most of the year. About sixteen species are known as belonging to the 

 genus, all of which are natives of Brazil. Since the introduction of the well- 

 known F, Hopeana, nearly thirty years ago, various others far surpassing it 

 both in foliage and flowers have emerged into cultivation, and which undoubt- 

 edly are indispensable to all collections where choice kinds are a requisition. 



As regards cultivation, Francisceas luxuriate in plenty of heat and mois- 

 ture while growing ; but when established, and the wood is properly ripened, 

 they will do with a very moderate temperature, and a very reduced or rather 

 dry atmosphere. The flowers are produced on the apices of the young 

 shoots ; therefore previous to starting them, cut them well back ; and if they 

 are old plants, shake them out a little or reduce their balls, and pot them in 

 a fresh compost of leaf-mould, turfy peat, and sandy loam, in about equal 

 proportions; with good drainage, and not in over-large pots ; keep them in a 

 close atmosphere with a brisk heat, syringing over head every day while 

 growing ; stop the young shoots as they progress, and train them into shape, 

 so as to form a good specimen. The following species of this great genus 

 are in cultivation at Kew. 



F. calycixa. This is one of the best, forming a compact bush two feet 

 high, and flowering freely on very small plants ; the leaves are oblong, rather 

 elliptical, three or four inches long, glabrous, of a good substance, and green 

 on both sides. The flowers are from two to eight in a cyme, of a violet blue, 

 becoming light with age ; each flower is nearly two inches across, and re- 

 mains in perfection for a considerable time. This plant is known as F. con- 

 fertiflora. 



F. eximia is one of the most beautiful species in cultivation; it is of a 

 rather robust habit, two to three feet high ; the leaves are oblong-lanceolate, 

 four to seven inches long, undulated, darkish green above and whitish beneath, 

 and covered throughout with small hairs, which render them soft to the 

 touch. The flowers are large, very showy, two to five in a cyme ; each flow- 

 er two and a half inches across, deep lilac, ultimately becoming nearly white. 



F. Hopeaxa. This grows about two or three feet high, has smooth leaves 

 two or three inches long, undulated, green on both sides, flowers usually soli- 

 tary, very fragrant, near an inch and a half across, of a deep violet, fading 

 to white. 



F. hydraxge^sformis is a robust grower, attaining the height of three to 

 four feet, branching mostly towards the apex ; the leaves are smooth, oblong- 

 obovate, six to nine inches long, tapering to a short thick foot-stalk ; the 

 flowers are in a dense compact raceme or cyme, forming a rather large com- 

 pact head, somewhat resembling Hydrangea hortensis ; they are of a fine 

 rich blue purple, becoming almost white in age. 



F. HYDRANGEiEFORMis alba. This variety has white flowers, otherwise 

 not different from the original. 



