MEDINILLA 



! — MEYENIA 



! — MONO CH. E TUM. 



7 



height 3 feet, leaves large, flowers rosy -pink, borne in very large terminal, pendulous 

 racemes in May, is one of the grandest flowering plants in cultivation. 



Propagation is affected by cuttings of firm, young side-shoots, 3 to 4 inches long, in 

 spring or summer, in sandy peat and leaf soil, in a temperature of 75° to 85°, covering 

 with glass and shading carefully. Pot the young plants in a mixture of two parts 

 fibrous loam to one part each of peat and leaf soil, with half a part of sharp sand, 

 employing a similar mixture, but in a coarser state, when shifts are given into larger 

 pots. Keep newly-potted plants somewhat close and shaded till well recovered from the 

 check, and afterwards arrange them in a sunny position in the hottest part of the house. 

 Top to make them branch, but not after a good foundation is laid, as only strong, well- 

 developed growths flower satisfactorily. During the growing and flowering seasons apply 

 water freely, assisting those coming into flower with liquid manure, and syringe twice 

 daily. From November to February rest the plants in a temperature of 65° to 75°, 

 only giving water to keep the plants fresh in appearance. In February cut back all 

 irregular branches, and when fresh growth commences, re-pot. Medinillas must have 

 abundance of heat, accompanied by much moisture in the atmosphere, and should be 

 kept scrupulously clean without the aid of strong insecticides. 



meyenia. — M. erecta (syn. Thunbergia erecta), West Africa, is an evergreen 

 shrub, producing blue flowers with a rich orange throat and pale yellow tube ; of this 

 M. e. alba is a variety with white flowers and yellow tube. Both were cultivated more 

 generally by previous generations of gardeners, and ought not to be wholly discarded 

 at the present time. Propagation is effected by inserting cuttings of firm young shoots 

 2 to 3 inches long, from February to -June, in a mixture of peat, leaf soil, and sand, 

 covered with glass in a temperature of 75° to 85°. Arrange the plants in a somewhat 

 shady position in an ordinary plant stove, exposing them to the full light only when 

 they are resting during the winter. Ee-pot as required, using a mixture similar to that 

 recommended for cuttings, only in a much coarser state, and drain the pots carefully. 

 Prune lightly in February. 



monochjetum, — A genus of evergreen flowering shrubs, the best of which are 

 worthy of culture in either a warm greenhouse or cool stove. M. Hartwegianum , 

 Andes, a dwarf shrub, produces bright, rose-coloured flowers during the winter ; 

 M. Humboltianum, Carraccas, rich reddish-purple flowers, October to December ; M. 

 Lemonianum, deep rich violet-rose, winter and early spring, and M. sericeum 

 multiflorum (Fig. 4) with rich mauve flowers, freely produced in the spring are 



