134 
RANDOM RECOLLECTIONS OF WINTER-BLOOMING PLANTS. 
plant, and a fit companion for the Euphorbias. It requires nearly the same tre; ■ 
ment, with the exception that it must not be stopped quite so frequently, but rath 1, 
be allowed to run at random. The flower is almost insignificant, but whi 
vigorously grown, the bracts or floral leaves both of this and P. pulcherrima all , 
the white variety, are remarkably beautiful. 
Poinciana pulcherrima. — Writing of Poinsettia brings to mind this splend 
stove plant, which is hard- wooded, and belongs to the natural order Leguminos 
It is a free-growing plant, producing bright purple-scarlet, bottle-brush-like flowei 
on small branches from the old wood, so that the plant requires to be grown a seas< 
or two before it blooms much ; but if it is grown vigorously through the summ( 
and, after the wood is ripe, allowed to go to rest, and pruned closely in, and start 
about Christmas, it will form a magnificent plant in February and March. 
Tropceolum Lobbianus. — This is one of Messrs. Veitch’s acquisitions throuj 
their collector, Mr. Lobb, and is an invaluable plant for winter blooming, producii 
bright orange-scarlet flowers very profusely, and quite as bright in colour as the scarl 
geranium. It is readily propagated by cuttings, and will grow in any common so; 
To bloom it properly, it requires during the winter a temperature of from 50° to 55 
Oestrum aurantiacum. — A comparatively new plant, producing bright oranj 
flowers in November and December, succeeded by fruit which is almost i 
interesting as the flowers, though very dangerous, being a deadly poison. It 
readily propagated by cuttings, in spring, and the plants require to be grow 
vigorously through the summer, and gradually hardened off for blooming towarc 
the autumn. In the second season it merely wants to be cut in and started in til 
spring, giving it plenty of pot-room, and occasionally stopping the strong growths i 
the plants progress in size. It will bloom in a cool greenhouse. 
Eranthemum pulchellum. — This is an old plant, but a very fine one for wint< 
blooming, and is also very easily managed. Cuttings struck in the spring 
occasionally stopped so as to make them branch, and grown in a forcing-hous 
through the summer, make admirable winter-blooming plants, and the best of thesl 
kept through a second season, and properly managed, make magnificent specimen| 
The Eranthemums will grow in almost any soil, and, so long as they have hea 
and moisture, and are kept clear from insects, will scarcely go wrong. E. bicolor i 
also a fine spring-flowering plant. 
Linum trigynum. — Contrasting with the bright purple flowers of the precedin 
plant, this is a very useful and easily-managed plant, striking root readily in an] 
common soil in heat, and growing with the greatest possible freedom. It produce] 
bright yellow flowers, and a few plants introduced into heat about once a mont 
during the winter will give a regular succession of bloom. The only objection to th 
plant is the affection which the red spider has for it ; but if kept vigorous! 
growing and copiously syringed, these pests may be kept under. 
Justicia speciosa. — An old, but desirable plant, producing purple flowers, ant 
requiring the same treatment as the Eranthemums. J. coccinea is also a ver 
