_e^£ll5 
ON THE CULTURE OF GLOXINIAS AND GESNEE.AS. 
can speak with confidence of its good qualities. This variety, with several more, was kindly forwarded 
to me in the early part of 1848, by Messrs. Wood, Nurserymen, Maresfield, and this one proved so 
excellent, that the following year I cultivated it more extensively, and on September the 4th exhibited 
one at the London Horticultural Society ; not, however, with a supposition that it would equal in 
flavour some of the summer varieties, but merely to bring it into notice for its valuable quality of keeping 
long after being cut from the plant ; on being cut up, its flavour proved so good, that a certificate 
was awarded it as being the second best exhibited, the Bromham Hall taking the first place. This, 
although a Persian variety, is cultivated with less trouble and greater certainty of a crop than any 
other Melon I am acquainted with. For a late crop I sow about the latter end of April, and when the 
plants are ready, plant them in the frames from which I have taken a crop of Potatoes. I neither 
remove the soil nor give the beds any additional heat. The plants have a slight sprinkling early every 
fine afternoon, and the frames are closed until the following morning. I give an occasional root 
watering if the soil is found to be very dry. This variety being an excellent bearer, a large crop of 
fruit may be produced at a very small amount of expense and trouble, and with one or two other sorts 
for summer use, would be sufficient for any establishment where really good fruit is required regardless 
of size. It is a much too common practice to grow several sorts in a garden, sometimes in the same 
frame or pit, when it is almost impossible to get the seed true, and it is most vexatious to find the 
produce of your care and attention worthless. 
The variety under notice is a cylindrically shaped, naked fruit, the skin thin but hard, of a pale 
yellow ; striped or blotched with a dark olive colour when ripe. The flesh is firm and pale green. It 
has grown with me from six to nine inches long, and from three to four and a half inches in diameter, 
and weighing from three to five pounds. I hope ere long it will be known as it deserves. 
OX THE CTJLTTJEE OF GLOXINIAS AM) GESXERAS. 
By Mr. J. L. MIDDLEMISS, Gardener at Bextham Hill, Toxbridge "Wells. 
fHE genera Gesnera and Gloxinia are so well adapted to our requirements for decorative 
purposes, the same treatment suiting both, that one or more, according to the extent of our 
means, may be had in flower most part of the year. In order to secure this very desirable object, 
where the command of a little heat can be obtained, a few of the bulbs which have been longest at 
rest may be potted and started into growth early in December ; and others may be started at intervals 
of a month or six weeks up to June, for a regular succession throughout the season. The largest 
batch should be started in March, to make a fine display from July to September, when other denizens 
of the stove and greenhouse have ceased flowering, and are preparing for another campaign. If care be 
always taken to start the bulbs in the same order in which they go to rest they will become so habituated 
to the treatment, that they will generally be ready to start at the proper time every season. 
The soil that I have found the earlier sets to do best in, is equal parts half decayed beech leaves 
and good peat, with a very small portion of mellow turfy loam, and a goodly quantity of silver sand. 
As the season advances, a little more loam may be used, and a little well-rotted cow-dung. The pots, 
which may vary in size from five to eleven inches in diameter, according to the size and age of the 
bulbs, should be thoroughly well drained ; and it may be well to mix some small pieces of charcoal 
amongst the compost, in order to insure porosity in the mass, as the Gloxinia is particularly 
impatient of stagnant moisture at the roots. They should be potted into their flowering-pots at once, 
covering the bulbs very slightly and pressing the soil firmly, but gently, around them. They should 
then be placed in a moist, part of the stove, or in a cucumber frame, or any where else where they 
can have a little bottom heat ; and as soon as they begin to grow, they should be placed as near the 
glass as possible, being careful at all times to shade them from the fierce rays of the sun, intense 
sunlight being inimical to a healthy development of the leaves, causing a crumpled appearance, and 
consequently acting detrimentally to the production of flowers. As the season advances (say in May), 
it will be sufficient to place them in a close frame, where they will not require any other heat than 
that derived from the sun, shutting up early, and damping round the frame to secure a high moist 
temperature for a few hours in the afternoon ; and tilting the frames at night to induce a healthy 
robust growth, by a free circulation of air, when the plants may be said to be asleep. A front shelf 
in a vinery near the glass, ■where the shade is not too dense, is the very best place for them, 
gradually inuring them to a cooler and drier atmosphere, until finally removed to the conservatory 
or greenhouse. But in winter it will be necessary to keep them in the stove, else they will not continue 
to flower freely. 
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