NEW AND BEAUTIFUL PLANTS. 
77 
an extremely pale purplish tint, approaching to white, elegantly striped with red- 
purple. This species is also a native of South America, introduced in 1824. 
The speciosa and caulesce?is are readily increased by cuttings of the stems, at 
any time after they emerge ; or by leaves taken off with the little bud attached to 
the base of the leaf stalk. These may be placed in silver sand, or even heath- 
mould ; and if kept temperately moist, and in a close frame, with a heat of seventy 
or seventy-five degrees, will produce roots. But the most interesting process is 
perfected by taking leaves with the bud, placing them singly in a phial of water, on 
a delf oven or upon a flue, or plunged in a leaf-bed where a gentle heat of seventy- 
five or eighty degrees may be maintained. After a few days the part that joined 
the stem becomes convex, enlarges, assumes a rather hemispherical form, and sends 
forth a few silky fibres ,* these elongate ; more are produced ; and in three weeks 
(more or less, as circumstances occur) the plant may be lifted from the water, and 
transferred to light peat earth, at first well filled with white sand, in a very small 
pot. The minute leaves which formed the germ upon the base of the leaf enlarge, 
others are sent forth, and a complete little plant is developed. Finally a perfect 
bulb, or more properly a tuberous underground stem, is formed, and this, when the 
leaves wither, retains the vital principle during the winter. 
The few foregoing remarks were penned by the Author of The Domestic 
Gardener s Manual, a contributor to the Hoi^ticultiiral Register. We intended to 
have added some remarks of our own, but must defer them, for want of room, till 
another opportunity. One observation, however, may be made here, viz., that in 
propagation, if the leaves be taken off without any bud, or even without the 
leaf-stalk, and the underside be laid fiat on a pot of soil, roots will be formed, and a 
plant produced ; without doubt, with a bud, this process is greatly facilitated, and, 
in the absence of that, a portion of the leaf-stalk. 
NEW AND BEAUTIFUL PLANTS, FIGURED IN THE 
THREE LEADING BOTANICAL PERIODICALS. 
Botanical Register, edited by Dr. Lindley ; each Number containing eight 
figures ; coloured 4^., plain 3^., and corresponding letter-press. 
Botanical Magazine, edited by Dr. Hooker, each Number containing eight 
plates, coloured 3^. 6d., plain 3*. 
British Flower Garden, edited by Mr. David Don, containing four plates, 
coloured 3^., plain 2^. 3c?. 
Of these twenty monthly figures we have only selected such as are new, and 
are to be recommended for culture. For descriptions and figures, reference must be 
tnade to the works themselves. 
