650 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



well established. It is a handsome, sturdy, branching species^ 

 but owing to its thorny nature is not largely grown. It is a 

 native of Madagascar. 



Francisceas (Brunfelsia) are stove evergreen shrubs with 

 alternate, entire, shining leaves. They may be raised from 

 cuttings struck in heat under a bell-glass. The soil for established 

 plants should be a rough turfy compost of three parts peat and 

 one of loam. Keep the atmosphere moist and at a temperature 

 of 65deg. to 85deg. when the plants are growing, but cooler 

 and drier during the resting period. Most of the species have 

 been obtained from Brazil, and have sweet-scented flowers^ 

 which are a beautiful purple when they first open, becoming 

 paler with age. F. Hopeana {F. unifiora) has violet flowers, which 

 change to almost white and are highly odorous. 



Gardenias. — Beautiful evergreen shrubs, which are without 

 doubt among the most deservedly popular and highly-prized of 

 our stove plants. The purity of their lovely sweet-scented double 

 white flowers, their shining bright green leaves, and their 

 adaptability for bouquets and other decorative purposes, make 

 them especially desirable. Cuttings of the young wood strike 

 freely if planted in sandy peat and loam in bottom-heat under 

 a bell-glass. The young plants should be grown on in a brisk 

 moist heat. The soil best suited for their culture consists of 

 equal • parts fibrous loam, sandy peat, and well-rotted dung. 

 Syringe frequently except when in blossom. A temperature of 

 6odeg. to 85deg. from March to September is none too high, 

 but during the winter months 5odeg. to 6odeg. is sufficient, 

 with, of course, less moisture. The plants, if neglected, are 

 very liable to insect pests ; they should therefore be frequently 

 examined and sponged when necessary to keep these in check. 



G. florida flore-pleiio is Jasmine-scented, and is erroneously 

 called Cape Jasmine, owing to its having been first brought to 

 this country from the Cape of Good Hope, where it was found 

 growing in a garden ; but it is in fact a native of China ; this 

 and its variety intermedia are what are generally grown. For- 

 timeaiia is a variety with larger flowers. G. radicans and its 

 variety major are much smaller in habit than the preceding, 

 but very pretty, and flower freely in very small pots. 

 • The following are single-flowered, and may be considered a 

 different section. G. citriodora, from Natal, makes a pretty plant, 

 with numerous single Citron-scented white flowers. G. Stanleyana, 

 a native of Sierra Leone, is a splendid plant, with handsome 

 foliage and large trumpet-shaped, sweet-scented flowers, 6in. long, 

 which are white, with chocolate-coloured spots, and are freely 

 produced all over the plant. 



Gesneras and N^egelias are herbaceous, tuberous-rooted 

 plants, with attractive flowers, and some varieties have, in addition, 



