MANAGEMENT OF THE GENUS JESCHYNANTHUS. 



133 



throughout the mass. 1st. When heath- mould is naturally de- 

 ficient in vegetable matter or fibre, add one-third half-decom- 

 posed leaves or decayed branches ; but if the latter be too coarse 

 for the size of the plants, rub it through a sieve three-quarters of 

 an inch in width in the mesh. 2ndly. Where sufficient vegetable 

 matter exists in the mass, but in unequal proportions, pass the 

 most decayed portion through a sieve of a quarter of an inch 

 square, and use the remaining portion. 3rdly. Where the 

 quality of the entire mass appears worthless or inapplicable, col- 

 lect the coarsest turfy pieces from the store heap, and bruise 

 them with the hands as far as' possible through the first-men- 

 tioned sieve. -By this process, and with the addition of vege- 

 table matter, as leaves, branches, &c, almost every requisite 

 degree of porosity may be obtained ; the last-mentioned materials 

 being less or more, in proportion to the strong and retentive 

 quality of the soil — the strongest soils admitting of the greatest 

 degree of mechanical texture (or porosity) by the addition of 

 coarse vegetable matter or broken sandstone, potsherds, &c. 

 The lightest and finest soils also admit of a nearly equal amount 

 of vegetable matter alone being added to improve their quality 

 and counteract cohesiveness. The strongest soils require the 

 least pressure in the process of potting plants, and vice versa, 

 but, where coarse vegetable matter or sandstone or other opening 

 material forms a component part of the whole bulk, the process 

 of potting should be " firm" in proportion. In selecting plants 

 for potting, those should be preferred which are uniformly young 

 and vigorous, and such as have been struck from parents whose 

 growth was unimpaired by excessive bloom. Plants intended 

 for superior growth should be uniformly vigorous or excitable, 

 this being the first condition on which the fitness for transferring 

 small plants to large pots depends ; in the absence of this, all 

 other conditions are inefficient. The second essential point in 

 potting, where much growth is required before the flowering 

 season, is, as has been already stated, porosity of the soil. The 

 greater the amount of soil used in potting, the greater should be 

 its porosity, and vice versa. Plants in suitable health may be 

 removed from pots of 4 inches in diameter to those of 8, 10, or 

 12 ; their vigour being the only rule of fitness, and their conse- 

 quent exposure to a suitably modified atmosphere the only con- 

 dition of success. 



The correct management of the species of iEschynanthus, 

 when grown in pots, depends upon the same general treatment 

 as when placed upon blocks or in baskets, in their exposure to 

 strong sunlight, exclusion from shade, and in their being kept, 

 until sufficient growth be obtained, in a congenial moist tempe- 

 rature. The gross and succulent structure of the species offers 



