28 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



borne in terminal racemes. All propagation is effected by cuttings of half-ripened 

 shoots, in a warm frame, in the spring or summer. Top the young plants, repeating 

 this operation till neat bushes are formed, and gradually shift them into 6 or 8-inch 

 pots, using a mixture of two parts loam to one each of leaf soil and decayed manure, 



not omitting sand. Pot rather 

 firmly. Up to J une they should 

 be grown in a light position in 

 gentle heat, but during the 

 summer sunny pits and frames 

 are the best positions for them. 

 Early in September move the 

 plants to a light house, having 

 a temperature of 55° to 65°, and 

 assist them with liquid manure. 

 After flowering, or in February, 

 they may be cut down, and a 

 fortnight later should have the 

 roots shaken nearly free of soil, 

 pruned, and returned to smaller 

 pots than they were in previ- 

 ously. Top any growths taking 

 an undue lead, and transfer the 

 plants to larger pots as more 

 root-room in required. 



solandra. — Visitors to the 

 Madeira Islands are usually im- 

 pressed with the beauty of S. 

 grandiflora (Fig. 11). It belongs 

 to a genus of tall climbing 



Fig. 11. SoLANDKA GEANDIFLOBA. ^ q ^ 



trumpet-shaped, greenish white flowers, which only last about three days. Propagation 

 is easily effected by cuttings inserted in light sandy soil, and placed in a temperature 

 of 65° to 75° in the spring. Potted in two parts of loam to one each of peat and 

 powdered cow-manure, adding a little sand, the plants, if well attended to, grow 



