MANAGEMENT OF THE GENUS JESCHYNANTHUS. 135 



strongest influences of light, heat, &c, and kept almost wholly 

 from growing previously to the flowering season. Where plants 

 are stimulated to growth in a much greater degree than is 

 favourable to fertility, the influences of light, air, heat, and 

 other fertilizing agencies should be applied in proportion. The 

 peculiarities of management consist in potting the plants firmly in 

 proportion to the absence of soil, using considerably less bottom- 

 drainage, and exposing them to the highest temperature of which 

 the stove or orchid-house will admit, avoiding all shade from 

 sunlight ; water should also be applied more freely and uniformly 

 than when grown in earthy soils, and during vigorous growth it 

 should be enriched to a greater degree with liquid manure. 

 Where it is desirable to have large masses of bloom, the species 

 may be grown in the above manner by adopting stone pots or 

 boxes, containing from six to twelve plants in each. The 

 porosity of the material in which they are grown dispenses with 

 the ordinary practice of shifting from smaller to larger pots. 



The most beautiful species are: — L JE. ramosissimus (macu- 

 latus), a slender growing species, but capable of forming a large 

 specimen. Its flowers are principally produced from the extre- 

 mities of the previous season's growth, expanding in succession 

 from February till May ; after this period the plant should be 

 re-excited to growth by being partially pruned back, which, on 

 being matured, will admit of its being progressively hardened^off 

 in a lower temperature, and of its being removed to a light, 

 cool, close pit until autumn, finally placing it on a dry shelf or 

 platform in the greenhouse or cool end of the stove until re- 

 quired to bloom in spring. During its season of rest water 

 may be applied once in ten days or a fortnight. This species is 

 one of the most valuable for its being easily excited to bloom 

 throughout the mid-winter and spring months, when its rich 

 clusters of crimson flower-tubes present a very gay appearance. 

 When removed to the stove or warm conservatory, water should 

 be gradually applied, as the plants exhibit a tendency to absorb 

 it, syringing now and then being sufficient on their first exposure 

 to increased temperature. 2. grandiflorus is a summer and 

 autumnal flowering species, producing its flowers on the extremi- 

 ties of the current year's growth, from July to September. 

 Having obtained a sufficient extent of growth during the early 

 spring months, according to the conditions previously stated, 

 watering should be gradually lessened, and syringing wholly dis- 

 continued, which, aided by exposing the plants to a decrease of 

 from 10° to 15° in temperature, will encourage the formation 

 of bloom. When the blossom-buds show colour, remove the 

 plants to a dry light greenhouse, where an intermediate tempera- 

 ture is maintained during the first week, after which air may be 



