FEW SELECT CLIMBING STOVE PLANTS. 
85 
cathartica and treats them precisely alike, except that one shall be carefully and 
regularly trained, while the other is left to itself, and if the untrained plant will not 
produce fifty per cent, more bloom than the trained one, why, we have been wofully 
deceived. 
With these preliminary remarks we shall proceed to offer a few suggestions on 
the cultivation of some of the most remarkable stove climbers ; and, to render our 
remarks the more intelligible to the amateur reader, we propose to treat of each 
plant separately, and we thus hope to render the pot cultivation of some of the 
finest climbing plants a little more profitable than, generally, it hitherto has been. 
Stephanotis floribunda. — This lovely plant was introduced to our stoves some ten 
years ago, and first produced its flowers in the collection of Mrs. Lawrence, at Ealing 
Park, or rather, at that time, at Drayton Green, where its pure white wax-like flowers 
and delicate scent rendered it a very deserved favourite. It may readily be propa- 
gated by layering the branches or by cuttings ; but as it strikes rather tardily, for 
private purposes, layers are preferable. In layering, all that is necessary is to give 
the branch a twist, so as to rupture the sap-vessels, or cut a notch close under a 
joint, bend the part into a pot, and cover with light sandy soil ; sometimes these 
layers will produce roots and be fit to take off in a few weeks, while at other times 
they will be months in forming roots ; but supposing that your method of propagation 
has progressed favourably, and that you have strong well-rooted plants, your best 
method of procedure will be to give the plants a liberal shift, about the first week in 
January, in a compost consisting of equal portions of good mellow turfy loam and 
turfy peat, with a good sprinkling of half decomposed leaf-mould, and sufficient sand 
and charcoal to keep the compost free and open ; use the compost in a rough state, 
and do not make it too firm in the pots. After the plants are potted they should be 
plunged in a nice growing bottom-heat of from 75° to 80° and the atmospheric 
temperature should range from 60° to 75°. 
Under such circumstances the plants will progress with great rapidity, more 
especially if the heat is produced by dung or other fermenting materials. About the 
middle of March they will require a second shift, and by the middle of May a third ; 
still continue to use the same compost, and maintain a lively bottom and atmospheric 
temperature, of course taking the precaution to avoid burning by excess, either roots 
or branches. After February the plant may be watered liberally, once or twice a 
week, with manure water, prepared as directed at page 18; and if the walls of the 
pit and surface of the plunging material are occasionally sprinkled with the manure 
water the atmosphere will be improved thereby and the plants materially benefited. 
If these plants progress as they ought to do, they will, by the end of July, stock 
fifteen-inch pots, and cover cylindrical trellises four feet in height ; after this time 
they must be gradually brought to a state of rest ; and by placing them in a sunny, 
warm situation, close to the glass, every advantage must be taken to get the wood 
thoroughly ripened; if this can be accomplished early in the autumn, a few 
weeks under a south wall in the open air will do the plants no harm. During the 
winter keep the plants in a temperature rather under than over 50°, and give no 
