66 
METHOD OF BLOOMING BRUGMANSIA SUAVEOLENS 
WHILE SMALL. 
There is a section of plants which, though somewhat limited in numbers, rank 
among the most magnificent objects in the vegetable kingdom, but which appear to 
be too large to admit into greenhouses of moderate size, and only seem fit for the 
most extensive conservatories. In collections, therefore, where such spacious 
erections are wanting — and these include the great majority of places— but more 
particularly in small gardens where only one or two greenhouses are possessed, and 
every inch of room is valuable, those noble plants cannot be favourably cultivated, 
and the proprietor has to forego the pleasure of having them, or at least, of growing 
them in anything approaching to perfection. 
Brugmansia suaveolens (the old Datura arhorea) is an illustration in point. It 
is naturally almost a tree in its character, and, being a most vigorous growing 
plant, has a prodigious profusion of roots. If cultivated to its ordinary dimensions, 
it requires an immense pot or tub, a tall house, and ample space for its spreading 
branches. But it thrives altogether most admirably when planted in a free border, 
and only pruned a little occasionally, to repress its straggling outer branches. Thus 
managed, it blooms with amazing prodigality ; and certainly, throughout the long 
time that it remains in flower, is scarcely equalled by anything in nature. 
But comparatively few can command facilities of this description, and the rapidity 
with which it grows, the size it attains, and the amazing freedom with which it 
roots, seem to present insuperable obstacles to its cultivation in a small greenhouse ; 
so that the admirer of fine flowers, who has merely a little room to spare, could 
hardly hope to compass so splendid an object without some particular method of 
throwing it early into blossom were devised. It is this method, then, that we 
now propose propounding ; and all will perceive that, through its medium, the 
plant of which we are writing can be readily grown and bloomed in the most 
circumscribed greenhouse. As, moreover, the flowers will be expanded in the 
autumn, (during the months of October and November,) it will be increasingly 
valuable on account of the general dearth of conspicuous blossoms at that period. ■ 
Cuttings of the species are rooted in the autumnal months, or very early in the ; 
spring, by being planted in pots or a bed of hght loamy soil, which is supplied with i 
a trifling bottom heat. Perhaps, the spring is the better season, on two grounds. 
First, They will then strike more freely, and have the opening mild weather to 
establish themselves in ; whereas, in autumn, having just ceased to grow, they j 
would require more stimulation, and be less likely to root favourably, from the ! 
deepening dulness of the atmosphere. Secondly, If struck in autumn, they would ] 
demand much more room and attention, than if they were left on the old plant. 
Selecting, for these reasons, the spring to propagate them in, the cuttings j 
should be prepared about the end of February ; and, when they are rooted, they j 
