324 THE FLORIST AND 



ON THE PLEROMA KUNTHIANUM AND LASIANDRA SPLEN- 



DENS. 



It sometimes happens that accident points out the best method to man- 

 age certain plants, to get them to the greatest perfection. To a certain 

 extent we have been indebted to this cause, or rather, perhaps, for the right 

 means, for a magnificent display of blossom of the Pleroma Kunthianum 

 of Paxton, also called P. Benthamianum, and Lasiandra Kunthiana, cer- 

 tainly one of the best of all the fine tribe of the Melastomacese. The treat- 

 ment this has received here was the following : This time twelve months 

 gone, was purchased among other plants, a nice young plant of our present 

 object. At that time there was but one house for accommodating all sorts, 

 which was kept during winter as a warm green-house. The plant, when 

 purchased, was healthy and luxuriant, but all winter wore a sickly, un- 

 healthy appearance, as though ill at ease. This being so, it was kept out 

 of sight as much as possible, and watered but seldom. The first week in 

 March, a hot-bed was prepared to accommodate our few pining stove plants, 

 and amongst them was our present notice, which was cut well back and 

 given a liberal shift, and which then ultimately began to show signs of new 

 life. It remained here till the first week in May, when having a vinery just 

 finished and planted, it was transferred to this place, getting too large for 

 a frame ; here it showed evident signs of luxuriating in a high, moist and 

 humid atmosphere. 



By the 4th of July our stove was ready into which our pet was intro- 

 duced ; from that time to the present, it showed its gratefulness for all favors, 

 and now is repaying by a bountiful supply of panicles, of very large, deep, 

 blue-purple flowers, of five wedge-shaped petals, each having a white blotch 

 at the base. 



From the foregoing we infer it requires perfect repose, in a low tempera- 

 ture during winter, exciting it into growth early in the spring, and affording 

 all the encouragement possible during summer and it should receive no 

 stopping from the time it first commences growing. 



Of course this presupposes a good plant 3 to begin with. A plant should 

 be grown one year before treated thus, in the following manner : Strike 

 cuttings early in the spring, which root readily with the assistance of heat, 

 as soon as rooted, pot off into single pots, as the pots become filled with 

 roots, shift into larger, occasionally stopping the leading shoots, till the end 

 of July, after which, cease potting and stopping, and give the plants every 

 opportunity to ripen their wood ; gradually dry off the plants in the fall, 



