26 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



raised annually, are much preferable. Sow the seeds in pots or pans of sandy soil 

 during February or March, in a temperature of 55° to 65°. From 2 -inch pots, in which 

 the plants are early established, give a final shift to 5-inch or slightly larger pots, 

 using equal parts of loam and leaf soil, with sand. Grow them in a light position 

 in gentle heat till June, when frames or shallow pits are the best places for them. 

 They must have free ventilation, careful watering, and feeding with liquid manure. 

 Arrange them in a light position in a plant stove in September. 



rondeletia. — Specimen Eondeletias are to be met with occasionally in the 



exhibition tent, and arrest attention. They are 

 hard-wooded stove evergreen flowering shrubs, 

 neither difficult to propagate nor cultivate. E. 

 cordata (syn. Eogiera cordata), Guatemala, pro- 

 duces terminal cymes of pink flowers in the 

 summer. E. gratissima, Fig. 10 (syn. Eogiera 

 gratissima), Mexico, gives pinkish sweet-scented 

 flowers in terminal cymes, and is a very desirable 

 species. E. speciosa (odorata), Cuba, produces 

 terminal compound cymes of sweet - scented 

 bright vermilion flowers in the late summer and 

 autumn months, and of this E. s. brilliantissima 

 and E. s. major are improved forms, well worthy 

 of cultivation for decorative purpose, and afford- 

 ing bright, neat flowers for cutting. Eondeletias 

 are propagated by cuttings of firm shoots in- 

 serted in pure sand, under a bell-glass in a 

 temperature of 75° to 85°, in spring or summer. 

 The young plants should be placed singly in 2 -inch pots, using peaty soil, and grown 

 in a position where they will not suffer from undue dryness in the surroundings. 

 Topping will cause them to produce side shoots, and they ought to be transferred to 

 4-inch pots before they become root-bound. For this and subsequent shifts employ 

 equal parts of loam and peat, adding lumps of charcoal and silver sand. Pot firmly. 

 Arrange the plants on an ash-covered front staging, keep the soil in the pots uniformly 

 moist, taking care not to give too much water at first, syringe daily and shade from 

 bright sun. Train the young shoots round light stakes and they will then branch 



Fig. 10. RoNDELETIA (RoGIERA) GRATISSI1Y 



