THE OLEANDER. 
231 
heated stove to the warmth of an ordinary greenhouse, as the flowers advance 
towards maturity, enhances their colour, and prolongs the period of their duration ; 
but a sudden transition from the one to the other imposes a check, which prevents 
them from expanding, or if expanded at the time, hastens their decay. 
Specimens, however, planted in a border where a greenhouse temperature is 
maintained, will flower beautifully, if the roots are nearly deluged with water in 
the hot summer months ; or, at least, so abundantly furnished with it as to 
prevent any of the soil in the vicinity of the roots from becoming dry. Many 
people content themselves with bestowing a very superficial sprinkling, which is 
entirely taken up by the soil within two inches of the surface, whilst that beneath 
becomes completely void of moisture, and hence the roots which ramble amongst it 
are comparatively in a state of inaction and uselessness, being incapable of drawing 
nutrition for the support of the plant. One frequent consequence of the soil 
reaching this state in the course of the plant's growth is, that the upper branches 
are apt to wither up suddenly, as if blasted; — in the morning they maybe quite 
healthy, and at night sapless, and no after-treatment can recover them. The 
branches of old trees, moreover, are liable to decay in the greenhouse during the 
winter months, when they should be at rest, if there is much dampness either at 
the root or upon the foliage. This decay or canker commences in a small speck 
on the bark, and gradually extends along the surface, and penetrates in depth, 
till further circulation of sap is stayed. 
Old specimens frequently thrive and flower tolerably well in pots in a green- 
house or conservatory, when they are not exposed to a cold air, especially in the 
play of a current. In this case it will be necessary to give them frequent and 
copious draughts of liquid manure in a clear state, during the growing and 
flowering seasons. 
Another feature in the management of the Oleander is the production of dwarf 
blooming specimens. These are easily procured by making cuttings (especially in 
Autumn) from the upper shoots ; such cuttings, when rooted and encouraged in 
the forcing-house in Spring, will develope large trusses of flower when not more 
than a foot or eighteen inches high, and thus form pretty objects for the green- 
house or drawing-room. A collection of such plants of the white, variegated, and 
double-red flowered kinds, would make a pleasing variety, even in the absence of 
other things to mix amongst them. 
Before we quit the subject, we must view the Oleander in another light — 
we mean as a plant for exhibition. 
We believe it has seldom or never made its appearance at any of the great 
London Floral Exhibitions. It is true these exhibitions take place at a some- 
what early period for the flowers of the Oleander generally ; but there is nothing 
extraordinary in having them to flower by the middle of July : and when we 
look at the many proofs of skill and untiring assiduity which one of these fetes 
presents, the idea of difficulty vanishes. On such occasions a few specimens of 
