234 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



conservatories were bereft of these gorgeous flowers, with 

 their big, rich-coloured pouches, surfaces of blossom of 

 great effectiveness in decorations. The Calceolarias of the 

 greenhouse are hybrids — that is, the present race has been 

 raised by intercrossing, the same as in the case of the 

 Primulas, Persian Cyclamens, and other indoor flowers. 

 There are two great classes of Calceolaria, those known 

 as herbaceous and the shrubby section ; the herbaceous 

 are used for flowering under glass, while the others may 

 be planted out in beds for the summer months. As these 

 classes are very distinct from one another, they require 

 quite different treatment. Herbaceous Calceolarias 

 should be raised from seed sown at various times, say, 

 May, June, and July, but the rule with the best growers is 

 to sow about the middle of June, the seedlings from these 

 flowering in the following summer. Sowing Calceolaria 

 seed requires great care, for the reason that the seed is 

 very fine, and unless carefully distributed over the surface 

 of the soil it will be thick in one place, with very little 

 in another. Make the soil moist before sowing by 

 holding the pan or pot, or whatever the receptacle may 

 be, in a pail of water, and letting the water percolate up 

 through the hole in the bottom. When the seed is sown, 

 place a sheet of glass over the pan, and then transfer it to 

 the greenhouse, choosing a moist, shady place. When 

 the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them off 

 into other pots, and from these they may go individually to 

 the thumb size. It is essential not to let Calceolarias 

 become dry at any time in their growth, and also shade 

 from bright sun, especially after potting, whilst air and 

 a cool temperature are at all times required. There 

 must be no attempt to force the plants, else the result 

 will be failure. Keep a close watch for green-fly. which 

 is partial to the succulent leaves, and fumigate gently 

 with tobacco paper. To obtain those noble plants seen 

 at the exhibitions is not altogether easy ; but if one does not 

 seek extraordinary results, Plerbaceous Calceolarias are 

 easy to manage. Certainly few indoor flowers can rival 

 these in colour, and the selfs are particularly beautiful, 

 especially the clear golden yellow, soft lemon, and shades 

 of the same. Guard against aphis, the product usually of 

 bad treatment, give ample light and air, and never over- 

 water, else the plants will rot at the base of the stem. 

 For ordinary greenhouses, the Calceolarias should not be 

 potted into more than 7in. pots. Every nurseryman who 

 grows greenhouse flowers has rich strains of 1 [erbaceous 

 Calceolarias — Messrs. Sutton, Carter, and others — and a 

 variety very beautiful for its soft colour is Cloth of Gold. 

 There are, however, distinct groups to be obtained, such 

 as the dwarf, James's Prize, which fills the houses of Mr. 

 James, at Farnham Royal, near Slough, in Calceolaria 

 time. The plants are remarkable for their dwarf, sturdy, 

 spreading growth, and huge heads of flowers, repre- 

 sented by many lovely hues. Besides the herbaceous 

 and shrubby Calceolarias of the ordinary type, there are 

 certain species of great interest and uncommon beauty. 

 These are as follows : 

 C. alba. — This is a charming white-flowered Calceolaria, 

 one of the daintiest of the whole family, and reintroduced ; 

 but it was originally sent from Chili in 1844. It is a 

 shrubby plant, growing about 2ft. in height, and the 

 pretty white flower clusters are produced on slender stems. 

 A correspondent writing of it in a contemporary says : 

 "This species is one of the most dainty and distinct of all 

 the small-flowered kinds, and it makes a charming pot plant 

 as well as grown in a sandy compost of peat and loam. 

 It has been somewhat usual to predict of any distinct 

 species that it will be likely to lend itself to alteration or 

 improvement in the hands of the hybridiser ; but I hope 

 that this elegant and satisfying plant will long remain an 

 exception to this rule, for it is quite beautiful and distinct 

 enough as Nature made it in its native Chilian habitat." 

 This, like the remainder of the shrubby species, 

 may be easily raised, either from seed or by striking 

 cuttings. 



C. amplexieaulis. — This is a well-known Calceolaria, 



more familiar as a bedding plant than for the greenhouse. 

 But it is a bright and handsome flower for indoors, and 



its lemon colour is verv pleasing. It is less liable to be 

 attacked with disease than the bedding kinds. 

 C. Blirbidg'ei. — This is a very beautiful hybrid, raised in 

 the Botanic Gardens at Dublin by crossing C. fuchsiaefolia 

 with C. Pavoni. The plant is very vigorous, and a 

 place where it may be seen in full beauty is in the 

 greenhouse in the Royal Gardens, Kew, where the 

 vigorous groups of it are conspicuous for their freedom in 

 growth and flower too. It may be either planted out or 

 grown in a pot, and will reach fully 8ft. in height, 

 bearing an abundance of its soft yeliow flowers from 

 summer until the autumn. 

 C. fliehsisefolia. — This is so-called because the plant in 

 growth and leaf is strangely like the Fuchsia. This is a 

 species well worth culture, and was introduced from Peru 

 in the year 1878. Upon its upper shoots are produced 

 clusters of clear yellow flowers. When autumn is with 

 us this plant is very gay, and it will bloom into the winter. 

 Shade is important, as when continually exposed to the 

 lull sun ils leafage loses its fresh green colouring. 

 Another name for it is C. deflexa. 

 C. violaeea was introduced from Chili in 1S53. It grows 

 about 2ft. in height, and is one of the most distinct of the 

 w in ile family, the purplish flowers being of a helmet-like 

 shape. In the extreme Southern Counties, on warm, 

 well-drained si. ils, this Calceolaria will stand the winter. 



Many cultivators of indoor flowers pin their whole 

 faith to the varieties and hybrids raised by fertilisation, 

 forgetting that the species themselves are often as 

 beautiful in every way. This is the case with the 

 Calceolaria and Cineraria. C. alba and C. Burbidgei are 

 both rare, but this is not because they are inferior to the 

 varieties commonly cultivated. It would be a distinct 

 advantage if more change were seen in the flowers of 

 the greenhouse and conservatory, not relying upon a few 

 stereotyped kinds, though these be of extreme beauty. 

 Calla. — See Richardia. 



Camellias. — The Camellia is a native of China and 

 Japan, and was introduced by Lord Petre about 1739. 

 Mr. Fortune found it growing wild in the Central and 

 Southern Provinces of China, generally in woods, par- 

 tially shaded from sun by other trees, the shrubs or trees 

 of Camellias often attaining a height of 30ft. to 40ft. 

 Several species are found in China, but, excepting 

 C. reticulata, none are so handsome as C. japonica, from 

 which most of our double kinds have sprung. 



Many fine plants are to be found outdoors in England, 

 thus proving that a very cool treatment is best for the 

 Camellia. In the Royal Gardens, Kew, it has been 

 found that given a west aspect many kinds may be 

 successfully wintered outdoors. Camellias succeed 

 best in a house set apart entirely for them. They will 

 stand as much as 7deg. or 8deg. of frost with impunity. 

 A gentle heat is afforded during the winter, but at the same 

 time abundance of air given, thus warding off the great 

 danger of buds dropping off, which so often occurs in 

 smoky districts. They should be turned out of doors in 

 June, as soon as growth is completed, and placed under 

 the shelter of Poplar or similar trees, with the side 

 branches cut away SO that shelter be afforded but not 

 drip. It will thus be seen that to grow them in pots and 

 tabs is best, so that this removal outdoors, so beneficial to 

 the plants, may be resorted to. Thev are kept outdoors 

 until October, and then placed in their winter quarters. 

 In August the plants are repotted, using as a compost 

 three parts of best yellow loam of a fibrous nature, one 

 part peat, adding to this a little sand to lighten it, 

 and some charcoal to keep all sweet. A few ^-in. 

 bones are a usual addition. After removal to winter 

 quirters afford as much air as possible, according to the 

 weather, and as buds swell weak doses of liquid manure 

 should be given. A safe stimulant is five gallons of 

 stable drainings to fifty gallons of water. Never let the 

 ball become dry, and to secure this good soakings of 

 water are preferable to sprinklings. The buds must be 

 thinned where very thick. When the flowering season is 

 over, the glass must be heavily shaded and the house 

 kept moderately close, syringing the plants twice a day 



