141 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



XXVII. Note on the cultivation of Amlierstia nobilis. By Mr. 

 Taplin, gardener to His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, at 

 Chats worth. 



The age of the plant is probably about twenty-five years; the 

 height 5 feet, the circumference 45 feet. It is planted out in a 

 house specially built for it, in a bed of soil about 6 feet square 

 and 3 feet deep, raised above the level of the surrounding path. 

 The soil is warmed to a temperature of about 85° by pipes un- 

 derneath. 



The soil is good open loam and sand, to allow free passage for 

 water, of which it requires a large quantity during the growing- 

 season, both on the surface and also poured down a perpendicular 

 opening to the heating pipes below, so as to give moisture with 

 bottom heat. There is sufficient piping to keep the top heat at 70° 

 even in severe weather. The following is the mode of treatment. 



When the plant has flowered, a portion of the old soil is removed 

 from the surface without disturbing the roots, and some nice 

 fresh soil added ; it will soon commence growing, when it must be 

 kept shaded from the bright sun ; for the young growth especially 

 is very impatient of the sun's rays. I keep the plant sprinkled 

 twice each day, and evaporating-pans constantly full of water. 

 The plant generally makes two growths in the summer. The 

 growing-temperature is 75° at night, and from 85° to 100° by 

 day. 



In the autumn, when the wood begins to ripen, I give less 

 shade, and reduce the supply of water, for about three months, 

 but do not allow it to be very dry, and keep some of the evapo- 

 rating-troughs full of water during the winter. 



"Winter temperature 70° to 75°. In January I give more water, 

 and the plant will begin to show flower by the end of the 

 month, the flowers pushing out very rapidly and continuing to 

 open for five or six weeks. 



There have been this year fifty-five racemes of bloom open, and 

 there are three more to open, in all fifty-eight, with from ten to 

 sixteen flowers on each raceme. The greatest number of racemes 

 with flowers open at one time was about twenty. 



