105 
HINTS ON A SUCCESSFUL METHOD OF CULTIVATING 
GARDENIA RADICANS AND FLORIDA. 
In most gentlemen's gardens, and even in those wherein only a few green- 
house or stove plants are cultivated, either or both of the species above named, 
the former particularly, may usually be met with ; and it is remarkable, that 
although they are such universal favourites, few individuals succeed in growing 
them to perfection. The cause of their being so generally admitted into collections, 
whether of the highest or lowest grade, may be traced to the striking contrast 
between their deep green and shining foliage and their white flowers, but more 
especially to the delicious fragrance resident in the flowers, which, unlike that of 
most odoriferous plants, appears to be almost universally agreeable. Notwith- 
standing, however, that they are so generally admired, the majority of cultivators 
seem contented to have them in a sickly and languishing condition, either from the 
attacks of insects or from some injudicious treatment to which they are subjected, 
and few appear desirous of investigating their true nature and habits, for the pur- 
pose of deducing some detailed and improved system of cultivation that will be 
found appropriate to them, — the only means whereby any degree of success can be 
expected to be attained. 
In pages 226, 227 of the first volume of this magazine, the cultivation of these 
two species has been brought before the reader s attention, and reference may still 
be advantageously made to that article, so far as regards propagation ; but, having 
recently ascertained a few important facts which have led to some improvement in 
the general cultivation of these plants, we have deemed it advisable to add to our 
original remarks the result of subsequent investigation and experience. If the 
reader refer to the article above alluded to, he will find ample directions for pro- 
pagating these plants and bringing them to a state ready for flowering, as well as 
some few particulars relative to their general management. It is well known that 
they require a more than ordinary degree of atmospheric moisture to sustain them in 
health and vigour, and where this is not supplied they invariably suffer to a greater 
or less extent. To afford them this necessary humidity, some cultivators keep them 
in a hotbed frame, which system, in the absence of a more approved one, we have 
likewise advocated in the article before mentioned ; a sufficient degree of moisture 
being of course maintained in such a frame by the evaporation from the fermenting 
manure. But, however congenial such a situation may be to their natural habits, 
the plan is certainly objectionable, inasmuch as the plants are kept in a state of 
entire seclusion, and their beauty can only be seen and enjoyed during the brief 
period of their removal to the stove or greenhouse while in flower ; and at the 
expiration of this time they are invariably found to be much injured by the great 
VOL. V. NO. LIII. P 
