26 
BATATAS BONARIENSIS. 
from which we obtained our drawing in September last, grew most luxuriantly in 
the stove of Messrs. Rollisson, Tooting. 
Being an herbaceous species, with tuberous roots, the stems decay annually, 
and the plant requires to be kept quite dry during the winter season. It may be 
placed, for this period, on any dry shelf in a warm shed, taking care to preserve it 
alike from frost and shrivelling. About the beginning of the present month it should 
be repotted in a rather rich loamy soil, with which a very little heath-mould and 
sand may be incorporated, and removed to a stove of moderate temperature. If 
watered sufficiently, it will bear shoots of from fifteen to twenty feet long during 
the summer ; and these, if trained in opposite directions, will cover a very con- 
siderable portion of a small house. Early in the autumn, or towards the close of 
summer, the flowers will commence developing, and maintain a constant display 
for several months. 
On account of its herbaceous nature, it is not adapted for planting in the bed 
or border of a stove as a permanent ornament, but succeeds best when retained in 
a pot. As the flowers are unusually large, very numerous, and of a fine deep pink 
colour, it is a particularly desirable species for stoves. If consigned to the green- 
house, the management we have recommended can be pursued with equal pro- 
priety ; though we doubt whether it would be so showy or so prolific of flowers in 
a low temperature. 
Cuttings of the young wood root freely when planted in a sandy soil, and placed 
beneath an occasionally shaded hand-glass, in the stove. If planted late in the 
season, they will retain their stems and foliage through the winter ; but it is 
advisable to raise them in spring, on account of their liability to injury from damp- 
ness when kept in a growing state for the winter. 
Batatas is said by Rumphius to be the Malay name of one of the species, and 
by Nieremberg to be of Mexican origin. The specific name refers to the native 
country of the plant. 
