24 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



has been introduced and cultivated in the Malay 

 Archipelago, but all attempts to fruit it on the 

 Continent of India have been futile, and yet in 

 England it has been brought to yield its delicious 

 fruit in perfection, which are about the size of a 

 small Orange, and Chestnut-brown when ripe ; the 

 flavour is a compound of Melon, Pine-apple, Peach, 

 and many other luscious and refreshing fruits, and it 

 is perfectly wholesome. 



G. Mangostana is a strong-growing plant, with 

 opposite leaves about eight 

 inches long; these are thick 

 and coriaceous in texture and 

 deep green ; the leaves or 

 stem, if bruised, yield a 

 yellow gum, like gamboge. 

 Pot in loam, Molucca Is- 

 lands. 



Gardenia.— These plants 

 belong to the order Rubia- 

 tca, and are universal fa- 

 vourites, on account of the 

 delicious fragrance of their 

 flowers ; popularly they are 

 known as "Cape Jasmines," 

 although really natives of 

 China. 



Gardenias enjoy an abun- 

 dance of heat and moisture, 

 and where practicable should 

 be plunged in bottom heat, 

 the old-fashioned dung-frame 

 suiting them admirably ; next 

 to this the heat and moisture 

 of the tropical stove is the 

 best substitute. While grow- 

 ing they enjoy an abundance 

 of water, both to the roots 



and over the foliage from the syringe ; but they 

 must not be sprinkled with water overhead when in 

 bloom, or the delicate, pure white flowers soon stain 

 and turn brown. During the growing season they 

 must be shaded from the brightest sunshine, and, 

 after growth is complete, removed to the Intermediate 

 House for a short time, from whence they may be 

 returned to the stove from time to time as they may 

 be required, in order to keep a succession of bloom, 

 instead of having them all at once ; after blooming 

 is over, if desirable, prune them, but as the plants 

 are tolerably well cut back (especially when ladies 

 gather the blooms) during the flowering season, and 

 moreover, Gardenias seldom grow too large for the 

 family requirements, it will be advisable to prune 

 only just sufficiently to keep the plant in good form 

 and properly balanced. Any re-potting or surfacing 



FlCUS ELASTICA. 



required should be done just as the growth begins, 

 in order that the plants may reap the full benefit of 

 the new soil. In the case of Gardenias planted out 

 in a stove by themselves, the various changes of 

 temperature can be obtained by lowering the fire- 

 heat, and admission of more air. Gardenias when 

 treated in this manner soon grow into large bushes, 

 and yield a profusion of their choice flowers. Pot 

 in equal parts of loam, peat, and well-decomposed 

 manure, adding sufficient sand to make the whole 

 feel gritty. There are other 

 species of Gardenia besides 

 those here described, belong- 

 ing to a separate section, with 

 mostly long tubular flowers, 

 the best of which are G. Stan- 

 ley ana (now Randia maculata) r 

 G. octomera, and G. globosa. 



G. citriodora — somewhat slow- 

 growing, produces flowers re- 

 sembling in size those of the 

 Orange, with a delicious frag- 

 rance. Winter. Brazil. (Cor- 

 rectly, Mitriostigma asillare.) 



G. florida intermedia— leaves op- 

 posite, deep shining green 

 above, paler below ; flowers 

 double and pure white, deli- 

 ciously fragrant. "Winter and 

 spring months. China. 



G. Fortunei— a strong - growing 

 plant, resembling the preceding 

 in general appearance, but twice 

 as strong in growth, and the 

 flowers double the size, with 

 the same exquisite perfume. 

 Winter and spring months. 

 China. 



G. radicans major— a dwarf com- 

 pact-growing kind, with oppo- 

 site, small, deep green leaves ; 

 flowers very freely produced, 

 and like the others they are 

 pure white and deliciously per- 

 fumed. Winter and spring 

 months. China. 



G-omphia. — A genus of 

 Ochnaccce, which are mostly shrubs or small trees, 

 with simple alternate leaves, and producing ver)- 

 showy flowers. Pot in loam and peat, with a little 

 sand. Stove. 



G. olivaeformis (decora) — a 

 very handsome, but little- 

 known, flowering shrub, 

 with alternate, broadly 

 lanceolate, coriaceous, 

 dark shining green leaves, 

 and large terminal pan- 

 icles of brilliant yellow 

 flowers. Spring and sum- 

 mer months. Brazil. 



G. Theophrasta — a bolder- 

 growing species than the 

 preceding ; the terminal 

 panicles are much 

 branched , covered with 

 large, rich, golden-yellow 

 flowers. Spring and. sum - 

 mer months. South 

 America. 



Gustavia. — A genus of noble flowering shrubs 

 belonging to the order Barringtoniacea?. They enjoy 

 strong heat and moisture, and should be potted in 

 two parts loam, one part peat, and one part leaf- 

 mould. Stove. 



