CULTIVATION OF CLIANTHUS PUNICEUS. 
109 
with a good protection of mats, though even then the young shoots and flowers 
were much injured ; and we feel convinced that it will never prove sufficiently 
hardy for our climate. Some cultivators have practised the system of placing this 
plant out in the open ground early in the spring, and removing it again into a pot 
in the greenhouse in the autumnal months ; but, however luxuriant this may have 
caused the plants to grow, it is a bad practice, and for this reason : — the flowers of 
the Clianthus^ though they seldom expand till the spring, are usually formed in 
the autumn, and if the plant receives any check during the period of their forma- 
tion, either from shifting, change of temperature, or want of water, the buds in- 
variably fall off*, and the plant consequently never flowers : and as the flowers are the 
chief attractions which this plant possesses, the system just referred to should never 
be practised by any individual who wishes to flower it in perfection ; indeed we 
consider that, except for the sake of experiment or novelty, it is extremely inju- 
dicious to place this beautiful plant in the open air. It might certainly be trained 
with advantage against a wall with a south aspect, if ample protection were 
afforded to it during the winter months, but even in such a situation it is only 
capable of enduring mild and favourable winters, and can scarcely be termed a 
half-hardy, much less a hardy, plant. We consequently recommend all cultivators 
to treat it as a greenhouse plant, in which situation, if properly managed, it will 
form one of the most splendid ornaments at present known in our collections. 
Like many other plants, however, the one here noticed is seldom seen cultivated 
in the perfection to which it is capable of being brought by judicious attention to 
its habits, as few individuals exert themselves for the purpose of eliciting its true 
nature, or award it that attention it so justly merits. We shall therefore here 
point out the prominent features in its cultivation which w^e have learnt by experi- 
ence are most important. 
The first point on which cultivators generally have erred, is, as we before 
hinted, with regard to soil, and we now repeat that the soil we have recommended 
for this plant in the open ground, is equally suitable for it wdien planted in pots, 
and that heath soil may be either wholly dispensed with, or used in very small pro- 
portions. In potting it, good and efficient drainage is indispensable ; and though 
attention to this particular is so generally recommended in horticultural publica- 
tions, it is necessary particularly to insist upon it with regard to this plant, as it 
is too frequently neglected by cultivators, and in all such cases the usual bad 
eff'ects speedily manifest themselves. Another prevalent error in cultivating this 
plant is under-potting it; for how can it be expected that a strong and rapid- 
growing plant like the present will attain any perfection, unless the roots, which 
are the principal sources of nourishment, are allowed sufficient room to extend 
themselves ? It is necessary here particularly to reiterate what we have elsewhere 
declared, that we deprecate the practice of placing small plants in large pots for the 
purpose of saving trouble, — as no advantage can be derived from a saving of trouble 
which is efi'ected at the expense of the health and beauty of the plant, — and that. 
