20b 



THE FLOWER GROWER S GUIDE. 



Luculia.— A Avail or pillar plant. For cultural instruction, see Conservatories. 



mackaya. — This genus of greenhouse shrubs is represented by a single species 

 only — M. bella, a native of Natal. If properly grown M. bella is very beautiful when 

 covered with flowers, though more often than not the plants fail to flower satisfactorily 

 owing to faulty treatment. Propagation is effected by cuttings of firm young shoots, 

 inserted singly in 2 -inch pots filled with sandy soil, and placed in a close frame till 

 rooted. Top the young plants to make them branch, and shift into 5-inch pots. 

 During the summer and early autumn months the plants may be grown in frames, 

 ventilating freely and syringing daily. "Winter them in a greenhouse, and give no 

 more water than is needed to keep the wood from shrivelling. These young plants 

 are not expected to flower, but should be cut back rather hard and started into active 

 growth in April. "When fresh growth is forming shift the plants into 8-inch pots, 

 using a mixture of two parts of fibrous loam, broken up roughly, to one of flaky cow 

 manure. If the plants make good progress under the treatment recommended for them, 

 they will require to be shifted into 1 0-inch pots in the summer, and by the autumn 

 will have developed into branching specimens from 2 feet to 3 feet high. They may 

 be wintered in a temperature of 40° to 50°, and must be kept perfectly dry, all the 

 leaves falling off. They should not be pruned before flowering. In March a 

 warmer position may be given the plants, and they will then produce racemes of 

 flowers from the points of all well-ripened shoots. Prune after flowering and treat as 

 before. Two-year-old plants usually give the best results and a supply of young plants 

 should be raised every season accordingly. 



magnolia. — The only species recommended for greenhouse culture is M. fuscata. 

 This is a native of China, and an evergreen shrub of a bushy habit of growth. The 

 flowers are strongly scented, dull purple in colour, and produced in April. Plants are 

 increased by layering in the summer or autumn. May be planted against greenhouse or 

 conservatory wall, or kept in large pots or tubs. Suitable soil, a mixture of two parts 

 sound loam to one of leaf soil or peat, with plenty of sharp sand added. Frequent 

 potting is not necessary if strongly rooted plants are annually top-dressed and also 

 supplied with weak liquid manure occasionally. Keep the foliage clean by syringing 

 and sponging. 



Mandevilla, see Conservatory Climbers. 



Marguerites, see Commercial Floriculture. 



