40 
THE APPROACH OF SPRING. 
Spring is advancing ! and the sun's rays will shortly scatter the gloom of winter, 
and again clothe vegetable nature in its bright and cheerful dress. Choice plants 
in pots, which have stood for months in their winter quarters, now begin to show 
signs of returning growth. Some of these, although not, generally speaking, difficult 
to cultivate, yet possess some peculiarities which, if not understood, may puzzle the 
amateur, by not only preventing the pleasure of seeing them flower to perfection ; 
but even their state of health may be such, with all the attention paid to them, as 
to disfigure rather than ornament the buildings in which they are placed. 
Amongst these may be noticed : — 
Brownea grandiceps and coccinea (see Mag. Botan., viii., page 130, and ix., 
page 3L3). — Few vegetable productions can exceed the splendour and elegance of 
these truly magnificent plants when in flower. The blossoms are borne in immense 
bunches near the extremities of the branches, and when expanded the plants 
appear clothed in complete masses of vivid scarlet and crimson, too brilliant for the 
eye to rest upon. But in how few collections are they thus found, and how 
common is it to see them ragged and partially leafless, even under what would 
appear the very kindest treatment ! Both the species are of very slow growth, and 
their foliage is exceedingly susceptible of injury, and being natives of shady thickets 
of the West Indies, they will never endure full exposure to the rays of the sun. 
Heat, shade, moisture, and occasional sprinkling overhead with tepid water, are 
their requisites during the season of growth — and a dry, cool temperature, with 
very little moisture to their roots dining the season of repose. A treatment very 
similar to that given in an orchid-house may be taken as a guide. Drought and 
exposure to the sun in summer, and much heat and moisture in winter, are sure to 
destroy the foliage and prevent vigorous growth. 
Barringtonia speciosa and racemosa. — Both splendid plants, with fine, large 
shining leaves, and showy flowers ; but they are very scarce, and are seldom seen in 
so flourishing a condition as could be wished. In India, they luxuriate on the 
borders of small rivulets, where, for part of the year, they derive the full benefit of 
powerful heat and excessive humidity ; and during the dry season, when the 
streamlets are no longer replenished with water, they are exposed to some degree of 
drought, but never to a low temperature. Strong heat, and a very moist atmosphere 
are required, to keep them in a healthy growing condition ; 70 or 75 degrees is 
sufficient for the present, but as the season advances, the heat may be increased to 
even as high as 100 degrees; but the plants must be partially shaded, and the 
atmosphere be nearly at the point of saturation. Bottom-heat is also beneficial. In 
their season of repose, it is safer entirely to withhold water from the roots, and also 
to keep the leaves dry. The winter temperature must never fall below 60 degrees 
