232 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
mature the tubers. When the soil becomes quite dry and the foliage 
decayed, it should be cut otf down to the surface of the soil, and pots 
should be placed on a dry shelf secure from frost, where they may 
remain until required for the following season. The soil most suitable 
for the growth of the Achimenes is, equal parts sandy loam, peat, 
and well-decomposed cow-dung, adding a liberal supply of sharp 
clean sand. The loam and peat should be broken into small pieces, 
the cow-dung sifted, and all well mixed together previous to use. 
THYRSACANTHUS RUTILANS. 
LiLTHOUGII this plant is not likely to be a favourite 
where only dense compact specimens are looked upon 
as worth cu 1 tivation, it is, nevertheless, a very useful 
plant for winter flowering, and will, doubtless, be largely 
grown for this purpose. The bright scarlet tube-shaped 
flowers are produced for months in succession on drooping spikes, 
some two or three feet long, which look interesting, and form a fine 
contrast with other plants. So far as my experience goes, however, 
there is no possibility of inducing it to form a compact, well-fur- 
nished specimen, for if stopped to the extent necessary to do this, 
it loses its leaves, and refuses to grow at all. But this is of very 
little importance, as if a large bushy specimen could be grown, the 
flower-spikes, except those from the outside shoots, would not be 
seen to any advantage. 
Cuttings planted in sandy, peaty soil, covered with a bell-glass, 
and planted in a sharp bottom-heat, soon emit roots, and if these are 
put in early in spring they will form nice plants for flowering next 
winter. The cuttings should be potted singly as soon as they are 
well rooted, and placed in a close, moist, warm pit, or house, till 
well established ; and if they can be afforded a gentle bottom-heat, 
this will greatly assist in promoting the emission of roots, and in- 
ducing full growth. The young plants must never be allowed to 
suffer for the want of pot room, as this tends to make them even 
more leggy than they are naturally inclined to be ; therefore, until 
the plants are in their flowering pots, attend to shifting before the 
halls get over-matted with roots. The best situation for the young 
plants during the growing season is a pit, or house, where they can 
be kept rather warm, close, and moist ; and if they can be afforded 
a gentle bottom-heat, this will be of great service in promoting 
vigorous rapid growth. A slight shade will be necessary on the 
forenoons of bright, hot days, and the plants should be sprinkled 
over-head morning and evening in fine weather, affording them a 
liberal but careful supply of water at the root, and giving weak 
manure-water occasionally to those that have well filled their pots 
with roots. Beyond keeping the centre shoot secured to a stake, 
very little good can be done in the way of training or stopping, for 
the plant never seems to grow freely or with any vigour, except 
when one shoot is allowed to take a decided lead of the others. 
