716 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



majority of tropical plants, where we have not 

 stated to the contrary, succeed well in a compost 

 of half peaty soil, and half light rich loam — of 

 course, both containing abundance of vegetable 

 matter ; and if the loam is rather strong than 

 otherwise, or the peat deficient in sparkling 

 white sand, then that should be added to the 

 necessary extent. The soil can scarcely be too 

 rough, particularly for large plants ; and over the 

 drainage some of the turfiest or most fibrous 

 should be placed, both to prevent the finer par- 

 ticles from being washed down amongst the 

 drainage by the necessary waterings, and also as 

 food on which the roots will feed when they 

 extend to that depth. If the soil is dry and 

 rather light, or abounding much in fibrous mat- 

 ter, it can scarcely be packed too closely around 

 the ball ; if, on the other hand, it be somewhat 

 damp, and of a strong loamy character, then 

 less compression should be used. This is an 

 important matter in pot culture. Eegarding the 

 size of pots, this must be regulated by circum- 

 stances, as, whether it be desirable to have 

 lai'ge specimens, whether the plants are natu- 

 rally of luxuriant growth, and having large 

 fleshy roots, or whether they be of slender or 

 diminutive habit, with roots of a hair-like 

 nature. All sickly or badly-rooted plants should 

 not only be placed in pots as small, or often 

 smaller than those they have been growing in, 

 but the whole soil, in extreme cases, and the 

 greater part of it in ordinary cases, should be 

 removed, the dead or decaying parts of the roots 

 themselves cut clean away, the plants set in 

 small pots, and plunged in a moderately strong 

 bottom-heat. This treatment should be con- 

 tinued until they are again in a healthy grow- 

 ing state, when they should be again replaced 

 amongst the general collection. Avoid crowd- 

 ing the plants too much. Rapid-growing plants 

 will often require topping to cause them to form 

 a sufficient number of branches, but care should 

 be taken in considering whether the individual 

 produces its flowers at the termination of the 

 shoots, as is the case with most of Melastomacege, 

 which should, for the most part, be stopped only 

 once, while in some other orders stopping may 

 be repeated oftener, or, indeed, until the plant 

 has become sufficiently furnished from the sur- 

 face of the pot upward. Towards the beginning 

 of July many of the hardier stove-plants may be 

 removed to the greenhouse, which will by that 

 time have the majority of its plants set out in 

 cool pits or in the open air. This will give 

 greater room to those which remain, and enable 

 them more fully to develop themselves ; and here 

 they may remain till the end of August or 

 beginning of September. 



The following stove-plants are highly worthy 

 of cultivation, and indeed no collection can be 

 regarded as approaching perfection if many of 

 them are wanting : — 



Achimenes. — A now pretty extensive genus of 

 free-blooming plants, of low habit and of easy 

 culture. They are, however, more properly 

 inhabitants of the bulb house or pit, dying 

 down entirely after flowering, and remaining 

 during their season of rest under ground. They 

 increase rapidly by the roots, which may be 



kept in a dry state during winter, and placed in 

 a dry moderately warm chamber, or under a 

 stage in the stove. By February a portion of 

 the roots should be shaken out and potted in 

 light soil, in very shallow well-drained pots or 

 deep pans, and placed in a moderate heat, and 

 at first sparingly supplied with water. A second 

 potting should take place in March, and a third 

 in April, which will produce a long succession of 

 bloom. They are of easy culture, and produce 

 a good effect if planted thickly in the pots. On 

 account of their dwarf habit, few of them ex- 

 ceeding 12 inches in height, they may be 

 grown to great perfection in a low pit, and 

 removed to decorate the stove or drawing room 

 when fully in flower. 



yEchmea. — A genus of plants suited for either 

 pot or basket culture, and hence well adapted to 

 the orchid-house. Their flowers are beautiful 

 and of long continuance. They increase readily 

 by division, and prefer a light turfy soil in well- 

 drained pots. 



yEschyanthus. — An interesting genus, requir- 

 ing similar treatment with the last. 



Allamanda. — A splendid genus of climbing 

 and half-climbing plants, producing abundance 

 of large yellow flowers of great beauty. Require 

 a soil of peat and loam in equal parts ; propa- 

 gated freely by cuttings of the half- ripened 

 wood. 



Agalmyla. — Requiring similar treatment to 

 Gesneria. 



Amherstia nobilis. — A magnificent and hitherto 

 rare tropical tree, requiring a warm stove, a peat 

 and loam soil, abundance of water while in a 

 growing and flowering state, comparatively dry 

 during its season of rest. 



Angelonia. — Soil, peat and loam ; propagated 

 readiiy by cuttings, which should be attended to 

 annually. While young, top the plants till they 

 have made eight or ten shoots, after which allow 

 them to come into flower. 



Aphelandra. — A showy genus, several of 

 which flower during the winter ; of remarkable 

 easy culture, striking readily by cuttings ; re- 

 quiring a soil of half peat and loam. 



Batatas Waldeckii. — An ' excellent climbing- 

 plant, flowering throughout most of the summer. 

 Soil, peat and loam. Propagated by division of 

 the fleshy roots, after the manner of Ipomea, 

 and also by cuttings of the points of the shoots. 



Begonia. — An extensive genus of free-flower- 

 ing plants, of the easiest culture, requiring a 

 soil of half peat and loam ; readily increased by 

 cuttings, and some or others of them in flower 

 throughout the year. 



Bignonia. — The stove species are chiefly 

 creepers of rapid growth and great beauty ; pro- 

 pagated by cuttings, and requiring a peat and 

 loamy soil. 



Billbergia. — A free-flowering genus, requiring 

 the same treatment as iEehmea. 



Brownea grandiceps. — A plant of great interest 

 propagated by cuttings, and sometimes by lay- 

 ers, requiring a peat and loam rather rich soil. 



Caladium. — A genus of the Arum tribe, re- 

 markable for the beauty of their foliage, most of 

 them being variegated. Propagated by division 

 of the plant, and preferring a humid rich soil 



