156 



HOT-HOUSE — OF REPOTTING, ETC. [^May. 



ing, the flowers white, of a grateful odor, but of a short 

 duration. (Soil No. 17.) 



Comhretums. Nine species of beautiful flowering climb- 

 ing plants, standing in very high estimation. The leaves 

 of the principal part of them are ovate, acute, flowers small, 

 but on large branches, the flowers all coming out on one 

 side of the branch. They have a magnificent efibct. C. 

 llegansj red ] C. formbsum^ red and yellow ] C. pulcliellum, 

 scarlet; C. combsum, have crimson flowers in tufts; O. pur- 

 pureicm is the most splendid of the genus. It was first 

 cultivated in 1818, and so much admired that the whole of 

 the species, as soon as introduced, was extravagantly bought 

 up; and none of them has retained their character, except 

 C. purpureum, which is now called Poivrea coccinea. The 

 flowers are bright scarlet, in large branches, blooming pro- 

 fusely from April to September, and flower best in a pot. 

 When planted in the ground, it grows too much to wood, 

 carrying a few flowers. This plant ought to be in every hot- 

 house. (Soil No. 13.) 



Coryplias (Large fan Palm), five species of the most 

 noble and magnificent of palms. C. amhraculifera, the 

 fronds or leaves are palmate. In Ceylon, where the tree is 

 indigenous, they are frequently found fifteen feet wide and 

 twenty feet long. Knox says they will cover from fifteen 

 to twenty men, and, when dried, will fold up in the shape 

 of a rod, and can be easily carried about, and serve to protect 

 them from the scorching sun. G. tallera, now Tallera 

 hengaUnsis, being stronger, is of great utility for covering 

 houses. They do not grow to such immense extent in 

 artificial cultivation, but require large houses to grow them. 

 (Soil No. 12.) 



Cnnums, about one hundred species, chiefly stove bulbs, 

 many of them beautiful. Those that are of great celebrity 

 are C. eruhescensj pink; C. scabrum^ crimson and white; 

 C. amuhile, purple and white; the neck of the bulb of the 

 latter is long, is easily distinguished by its purplish color, 

 and is unquestionably the finest of the genus. Several 

 specimens of it are in our collections. Their flowers are in 

 umbels, on a stalk about three feet high; corolla funnel- 

 shaped; petals recurved; nearly fifty flowers on each stem, 

 and a good plant will produce three stems in one year. 

 They require large pots to make them flower well, and, 



