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246 THE CULTURE OF STYLIDIUM FASCICULATUM. 
side pits, two-inch pipes will be sufficient for ordinaiy pm-poses ; but if a strong heat is requiied, why 
then, three or four-iiich pipes wiU be requii-ed. Of boilers, the old conical is as good as any for small 
houses ; but for large, we have every reason to beUeve that the " patent flue boiler," iuTented by 
Hill, of Greenwich, is the best that can be used. 
The cold pits adjoining the greenhouse will be found vciy useful for the growth of :Mig:nonette, 
Violets, and Stocks thi-ough the winter, and also for protecting plants for the flower-garden. In the 
heated pits, Roses and other flowers may be forced, or, if preferred. Cucumbers may be grown. Should 
fiu'ther infoi-mation be required, or working plans and estimates, -we shall be ready professionally to 
supply them. — A. 
THE CULTURE OF STYLIDIUM FASCICULATUM. 
Bt Mk. G. FREEMa:^, BoxAi-ic Gaeden, Chelsea. 
§TYLIDIUM fasciculatum is one of the many interesting plants that shouldbe more generally cultivated 
than it is, for the pui-pose of exhibition, it being a bushy dwarf growing plant, attaining to a foot 
in height, and when 'well managed, densely covered with dehcate pinkish flowers, which remain in 
perfection for a considerable time. It is also a very desirable plant in small collections. There is a 
curious property residing in the style of the Styhdiums, which may be easily overlooked. '\Mien 
touched at a pai-ticular point, it spi-ings forward with considerable force, particularly if it happens to 
have been grown in a situation where it has had the full influence of the sun's rays. The general time 
of flowering with S. fasciculatum is from the latter end of May until July ; it can be kept back veiy 
well by shading if wanted later, but in that case must be exposed to the sun for two or three days 
before exhibition, to give it a good colour. 
Although seldom seen at either of the gi-eat exhibitions of the metropolis, it is well deserving the 
cultivator's attention on account of the easy method in which it can be grown. Those who can ma- 
nage Sedum Sieboldii can grow this StyKdium. The piincipal thing to keep in view is, to confine it 
to one croTi\"n, or one compact mass of shoots ; this must be done in order to have a fine globular shaped 
plant. Procure a young plant with one crown. If it is pot-bound, shift it into a larger pot, using a 
compost of snulf-colom-ed peat, with a little leaf soil, and plenty of white sand ; the pot must be well 
di-ained. Give a good watering, and place it in a warm part of the greenhouse, where it must have 
every encouragement, as fi-equent syringing, and constant attention as to a supply of water at the root ; 
weak liquid manm'e water may be given about twice a-week through the season, until it begins to turn 
of a yellowish colour-, when it must be discontinued, and water must be sparingly used until the fol- 
lowing spring. Fumigation will also be necessaiy, as the plant is very subject to the attacks of aphides. 
"When the wood is ripe enough to cut do\vn, the stems are to be cut off to within three inches of the 
crown, and the plant is to be kept as diy as it can be to retain life thi'ough the winter months. In 
early spring it will show a disposition to start, and when this is observed, re-pot the plant, if this is 
necessary, or if not, remove some of the top soil, and fill up the pot with the same kind of compost 
before used. It must for some time be watered cautiously. Being a free growing plant, it will soon 
require shifting into a larger pot ; but this must not be too large, as it Hkes to feel the sides of the pot. 
Continue this treatment until the plant is a fine-sized specimen, which will be in about the fourth sea- 
son, if it was a single crowned plant at the outset ; but if a good estabhshed plant in a six-inch j^ot is 
selected to start with, a good siiecimen may be had in two seasons. 
The principal points to be attended to in the cultivation of this modest-looking plant are these : — 
To keep it very dry tlu'ough the winter, and to give plenty of water in the gi'owing season ; to cut out 
any rambling shoots which make then- appeai-ance from the crown of the plant, so as to preserve a 
compact growth ; and to avoid diip on the crown of the plant, which is fatal. There are some other 
species of Stylidium, very pretty in their way, but they are better suited to a botanical collection, than 
to be gi'own as specimens for ornamental purposes. 
Among the ornamental kinds may be mentioned — S. adnatum, a dwarf biennial sort, with pale 
pink or blush-colom-ed flowers ; S. ciliatum, with yeUow or creamy flowers, perennial, and of herb-hke 
habit ; S. scandens, a climbing perennial, with deep red flowers ; S. grammifoUum, another herbaceous 
sort, with grass-like leaves, and naked scapes of rose-colom-ed blossoms; and S. tenuifohum, a perennial 
with pink blossoms. These may all be met with, more or less frequently, in cultivation. The genus 
is, however, at present rather neglected by cultivators, although several of the species, under good 
management, become very ornamental, besides having much of interest in theii- structure, when rj; 
minutely examined. Nearly all the species, of which many ai'e known, are natives of New Holland f, 
and the adjacent islands, extending, in one or two instances, to Malacca and the East Indies. /Ji,^ 
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