ON GROWING ACHIMENES, 
205 
be generally and fully understood. But there is, nevertheless, a few incidents 
connected with them that are yet but partially known, and as they are eminently 
conducive to that elegance and gracefulness, as well as beneficial in the encourage- 
ment of that showy abundance of flower so universally valued, we purpose to offer 
a few observations, conceiving that anything likely to increase the interest they are 
capable of exciting, will not be regarded as superfluous. 
It is well known that the slender stems of A. longiflora are unable to support 
themselves with the weight of their leaves and flowers, in an upright position. To 
obviate this, many resort to the expedient of employing a multitude of sticks, 
and tying out each shoot separately. There is, perhaps, no way in which a really 
beautiful plant can be more injudiciously treated, for what is really elegant and 
pleasing in itself is thus rendered stiff and unnatural. Besides, it is almost impos- 
sible that the sticks can be concealed by the foliage, and when they stand so 
glaringly and conspicuously, they are still more exceptionable. If supports are to 
be employed, they ought by all means to be well concealed, and the plants loosely 
and skilfully attached to them ; so that whilst they are effectual in giving support, 
a stiff, constrained, or a bundled appearance may not be produced. 
What has been said of A. longiflora may also be applied to A. pedunciilata^ 
and A. Jiirsuta, with almost equal propriety. These species are of a taller growth, 
and though much more robust than the first, they are, nevertheless, too frail to 
maintain an upright posture without aid. There is also a disposition to elongate 
rather more than is desirable, as the flowers are thus placed too widely apart. 
Hitherto, pot-culture has been almost the exclusive practice : but, whilst we 
acknowledge the excellency which has already attended it, and its superior suit- 
ability as a general method, we may yet question the propriety of confining 
ourselves wholly to it. A few deviations from ordinary usage, judiciously intro- 
duced, are always pleasing in the additional variety they afford. 
The slender stems of Achimenes hang so gracefully when unconstrained by the 
confinement of sticks, that a basket in which they might be grown and suspended, 
would seem more suitable, and there are few things more delightful or enlivening 
than a number of graceful forms hanging from the roof of a house, when the 
plants so treated manifest a willingness to accommodate themselves to the circum- 
stances. 
We have repeatedly seen the old A. coccinea —heitev known, perhaps, as Cyrilla 
pulchella — treated in this style ; and, though it does not thrive with equal luxu- 
riance to that which may be reached when grown in a pot, the deficiency in that 
respect is fully atoned for in the increased profusion and richness of the blossoms, 
and in the loose and graceful posture. A. longiflora yields with similar readiness 
to this treatment, and experiment will, doubtless, prove it to be equally congenial 
to others. 
Another advantage may be expected to accrue, when A . pedunculata^ A, hirsuta^ 
or like species are employed. The excessively luxuriant habit of these plants, when 
