QriSQrALIS, IPOilCEA, ETC. 



303 



down, or become ripened, when they should be set upon a shelf in the 

 stOTe and kept dry till they show signs of yegetation, or until it may he 

 desirable to bring them again into a state of active gi'owth. At that 

 period they should he shifted and supplied with water, moderately at first, 

 but as they extend in growth it should be augmented. They should be 

 brought to the front of the house to flower, as they are, particulaiiy the 

 two former genera, of dwarf habits, and would otherwise not be seen to 

 advantage. Gloxinia and Gesneria may be increased by planting the 

 footstalk with the leaf attached. The other is readily increased by 

 cuttings, and also by the same means. 



ariSaUALIS and COMBRETrM. 



These are two splendid genera of climbing stove plants, requiring to 

 be planted out in the borders of the house, or in large pots. The prin- 

 cipal feature in their culture different from other plants which inhabit the 

 stove is, that while in a deciduous state they should have all- the wood 

 of the preceding season's growth cut into one, or at most to two eyes or 

 buds. By this simple process they will flower abundantly : each shoot, 

 for the most part, which springs, will be furnished with a spike of flowers 

 at its termination. 



IPOMCEA. 



This is a genus of fine-flowering chmbing plants, ^vith large tuberous 

 roots, and tender herbaceous stems. "When these die down the roots 

 should be set upon the shelves, in a dry place, during winter ; in spring 

 they may be taken down and repotted, and placed in a close pit for a 

 week or ten days, when they will have begun to vegetate, at which time 

 they should be brought into the stove and placed near a pillar, rafter, 

 or similar support, to which the shoot should be trained, 



RHEXIA AND MELASTOMA, 



Two numerous and fine-flowering famihes. During winter they re- 

 quire httle water, but not to the extent to render them enrirely torpid. 

 These, together with many other half-herbaceous plants, should be placed 

 at one end or comer of the stove, that some attention naay be paid to 

 them in this respect. 



The following judicious remarks on the winter management of tropical 



