THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



even more attractive and beautiful when treated as roof plants. It is no uncommon 

 occurrence for such plants to flower profusely from May to September, inclusive, with a 

 good sprinkling of their handsome soft yellow blooms for another four months. 



A. Chelsoni, a garden hybrid, gives large yellow flowers, but is too stiff in growth for 

 trailing over circular trellises, pillars and roofs of houses better suiting it. A. grandi- 

 flora, Brazil, yields a profusion of lovely, medium-sized, pale yellow flowers, and is not 

 nearly so coarse in growth as most of the other species. It succeeds best grafted on a 

 stronger-growing species. A. Hendersoni, the most popular species, is one of the best, 

 either for exhibition or for training over roofs ; flowers large and bold, rich golden yellow, 

 throat striped with brown. A. nobilis (Fig. 126), Brazil, is not so robust as the 

 preceding, nor so generally serviceable, but is distinct and beautiful. The flowers are 

 very large and of a bright yellow colour. A. nerifolia, a South American species, is 

 very different to any previously described. It is of stiff, shrubby habit of growth, and 

 produces terminal panicles of comparatively small, golden yellow flowers. A. Ward- 

 leyana is similar to Hendersoni. 



Cuttings of shoots, preferably short tops, taken early in February or at pruning time, 

 inserted singly in the centre of small pots firmly filled with a mixture of fine loam, 

 leaf soil, and sand, plunged in brisk bottom heat, will produce roots in a few weeks, 

 after which the plants should be arranged on the surface of the bed. Before the 

 small pots become crowded with roots shift the plants into 5-inch pots, and return them 

 to the surface of the hot-bed, or an ash-covered slate stage, in brisk heat as before. If 

 wanted for covering a globular trellis, top to make them branch ; but if they are to be 

 flowered on the roof, do not top the plants till the trellis is reached. In the meantime 

 another shift will have been required. For the stronger plants 9-inch pots are not too 

 large, as allamandas produce numerous strong roots. For this and alL other pottings a 

 mixture of two parts good turfy loam to one of leaf soil, with a little decayed manure 

 and sand, is suitable. For the larger shifts break or chop the fibrous loam up coarsely, 

 and always pot firmly. 



Both old and young plants ought to be kept well exposed to the light and sunshine, 

 as this favours tho formation of firm floriferous growth, which matures sufficiently for 

 pruning without much resting or the withholding of water at the roots in the autumn 

 or early winter months. The more soft immature ends are not suitable for retention at 

 pruning time. All main or leading growths ought to be well cut back in February, for 

 if this is neglected much of the beauty of the plants will be lost and confusion of growths 



