PLORICULTURAL NOTICES. 
259 
shoots, some overgrowing the others, and only a few of them blooming, the 
specimens were brought into order and beauty, and a free state of flowering, such 
as is really delightful to witness, and would astonish many growers. 
The pruning to which we allude is done in the autumn, when the ])lants are in 
a condition approximating to torpidity. At that time the new shoots have mostly 
begun to show themselves ; and if the specimen be repotted in spring, they then 
get such a stimulus that they develop with extreme vigour, and flower in the 
summer and early autumn. From the regularity of their growth, more heads of 
blossom are expanded at once than is usually the case, and a better display is thus 
occasioned. 
As far as we can determine, from the nature of the facts, there is every 
probability that other kinds of Heath might be treated successfully in the same 
manner. Should this prove correct, many of those stubborn old plants which it 
has required years to bring to any size, but which, in spite of the best care, have 
become deformed or sickly, might be readily restored to a healthy and bushy state. 
The system is at least worth trying on them. Some varieties of vestUa, when cut 
in very hard for propagating, will branch in the freest manner ; and why a similar 
pruning should not be made available to restore them to compactness when they 
have got straggling, there seems no valid reason. Nor would it be amiss to experi- 
ment a little on some shabby old plants of such kinds as Irlyana or aristata. It 
is impossible to determine positively what would be the issue of such an operation, 
until it has been tried. We can only say that the probabilities in its favour are 
sufficiently good to warrant its practice wherever specimens that have lost their 
ornamental aspect exist. 
FLORICULTURAL NOTICES. 
NEW OR BEAUTIFUL PLANTS FIGURED IN THE LEADING BOTANICAL PERIODICALS 
FOR NOVEMBER. 
Achimen'es hirsu ta. " This pretty plant forms another acceptable addition to the charming 
genus Achimenes, and will probably become almost as great a favourite as any of the species. 
In habit it bears the nearest resemblance to A. pedunculata ; and, like that beautiful thing, is 
disposed to bear little bulbs in the axils of its leaves and branches," It was obtained from 
Guatemala, by Messrs. Henderson, of the Pine-Apple Place Nursery, Edgeware Road, having 
sprung up among some Orchidaceous plants that had been imported from that country. " As has 
been already stated, this species has the habit of A. pedunculata, but is nevertheless a very dif- 
ferent species. The leaves are covered with coarse hairs ; the flowers are much larger, not at all 
striped, but have a deep rose-coloured border, whose lobes are notched. It should be potted in 
a compost consisting of peat, loam, and sand, in equal proportions. In autumn, after flowering, 
the plant will naturally die down, but tubers will be formed at its roots, which may be kept in 
the soil during winter in the same manner as bulbs are kept, taking care to protect them from 
frost. In spring, as soon as they commence growing, they should be potted. Three tubers in 
a pot will produce a large plant. Although a stove plant, it requires plenty of air when the 
weather will allow, with an ample supply of water to its roots, but very little overhead : other- 
wise, instead of flowers, small scaly tubers will be formed in the axils of the leaves." The 
colour of the flowers is a deep rose. Bot. Reg. 55. 
