THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



velvety leaves ; flowers deep orange ; red throat, and lip prettily spotted with light 

 orange. G. refulgens, one of the most popular ; height 1 to 2 feet, leaves large, clothed 

 with short blood-red hairs ; flowers rich deep red. G. (Ncegelia) zebrina splendens, 

 Brazil ; height 2 feet ; large, handsome, dark, marbled leaves ; flowers bright orange 

 in long panicles in winter. Other good species and varieties are Gesneras — macrantha, 

 macrantha magnifica, and splendens, with Neegelias — Chardin, Fabiola, General Dodds, 

 Jeannette and Sapho. 



Gesneras and Nregelias may be raised from seeds sown during March or April on the 

 surface of well-drained pots or pans of sandy peat previously moistened in a tempera- 

 ture of 75°, covering with glass, and shading heavily till germination takes place. 

 Transfer the seedlings, when large euough, to pans of sandy peat, and grow them in 

 heat till they are ready for placing singly in pots. Cuttings of young shoots inserted in 

 pots of sandy peat in a temperature of 75° to 80° in the spring, emit roots and develop 

 into flowering plants the same season. "Well -matured leaves, if pegged down on the 

 surface of pans of sandy peat as advised for Begonia Eex (page 291), will also result 

 in the production of numerous small plantlets. 



All the plants form either scaly tubers or catkin-like stolons, and by these are 

 increased at potting time. After the plants have completed their growth gradually 

 withhold water, and as soon as the stems die down, cease watering, storing the pots on 

 their sides in an ordinary stove temperature till the time arrives for starting the tubers 

 into active growth. Those to flower in the summer should be potted in March, others 

 following one or two months later for flowering in the autumn and winter. The 

 strongest of the tubers may be placed singly in 5-inch pots, and three or five of the 

 smaller ones in C-inch pots, in which sizes the plants may be flowered. Pot in a 

 mixture of two parts fibrous loam, one each of peat and leaf soil, adding a little well- 

 decayed manure and sand. Drain the pots thoroughly, press in the soil rather firmly, 

 and bury the tubers about an inch deep. 



The best positions are light, moist stages in an ordinary plant stove, where they can 

 be shaded from strong sunshine. Very little water should be given till top and root 

 growth is well advanced, but when the soil is fully occupied by fibrous roots abundance 

 of water and liquid manure ought to be applied. Arrange the plants clear of each 

 other, so as to allow room for the foliage to develop, and be careful not to disfigure 

 the foliage by syringing. Even clear water stains the leaves. Gesneras thrive in 

 moist surroundings. By potting tubers of G. cinnabarina early in June, partially plung- 



