228 
JOURNAL OF H0RTICUL1URE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 20,1884. 
The culture of Orthosiphon stamineus is really of the simplest nature, 
which is another feature in its favour, inasmuch as any amateur possess¬ 
ing a cool stove may take it in hand without the slightest risk or fear of 
failure. Drain the pots well; for soil use about equal parts of peat, loam, 
and good leaf mould, adding a little sharp river or silver sand to the whole 
so as to make it feel gritty when taken in the hand, and during the growing 
and flowering season supply the plant liberally with water. It appears 
to be widely distributed over India and through the islands of the Indian 
Archipelago, but was introduced to our collections from the neighbour¬ 
hood of Cape York in north-east Australia, by the late Mr. J. G. Yeitch. 
—E. C. 
CULTURAL NOTES ON GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 
Lapageria rosea.— This excellent evergreen plant does not find 
a place in so many greenhouses as it ought to do. It can scarcely 
be considered difficult to grow. The price is also reasonable, and 
why not give it a trial. Procure a young healthy plant (the present 
best place. It is planted out in a well-prepared border, consisting of 
good loam. With good drainage it grows like a Willow. Train it 
to a wire underneath a rafter. After it has grown say from 4 to 
6 feet pinch it, when it will then throw out its laterals the later 
where the flowers will appear. When it has flowered we prune it 
on the spur system, and it will soon break afresh. Keep it securely 
tied, pinching any of the laterals that appear to be growing in 
advance of the others to balance the growth. Red spider appears to 
be its worst enemy amongst insects. It should be syringed daily 
when growing. A handful of sulphur to a canful of water occasionally 
keeps the spider at bay, and fumigate when in flower. Along with 
this I send a flowering lateral branch for your inspection. 
Habrothamnus elegans. —This plant is well named elegans, with, 
its beautiful carmine clusters of flowers. There is no plant better 
adapted for the back -wall in the greenhouse than the above, as it 
does not appear to thrive in the full blaze of the sun. Some 
gardeners are prejudiced against it, as it is subject to attacks of 
Fig. 48.—Orthosiphon stamineus. 
is a good time to get one), repot it at once, using a mixture of good 
peat and loam, with as much fibre in it as possible, with a sprinkling 
of coarse silver sand, add also a little charcoal to keep the compost 
sweet. Do not overpot it. The drainage must be good, as it requires 
plenty of water after it has fairly commenced growing. There are 
various ways of training this plant. We have tried it on the back 
wall of a greenhouse, on wires underneath a rafter, and so on, but 
prefer the balloon for two reasons—namely, it can be easily removed 
from one place to another; when it is growing it appears to thrive 
better in a rather cool shady situation, and of course when in flower 
we like to see it in a more prominent place. It is easily kept clean 
by applying the syringe when growing ; when in flower carefully 
sponge it. 
Clianthus puniceus. —A very beautiful plant, but it has another 
recommendation besides being beautiful, for it flowers at a time 
when flowers are most appreciated— i.e., in early spring. I once 
had a plant under my charge where it was trained in a span-roofed 
conservatory up one side of the house and down the other. A large 
white Camellia was growing underneath it. They both flowered at 
the same time, and the effect was magnificent. A plant here is 
trained somewhat similarly to the one mentioned. It is treated like 
a Vine, except in regard to temperature, the greenhouse being the 
aphides, but any greenhouse plant is liable to these pests if not 
properly treated. Cleanliness ought to be the first consideration,, 
such as the back wall of the greenhouse being whitewashed in the 
ordinary way, as well as the wires whereon it is trained. Plant it 
out as advised for the Clianthus. Make certain that drainage is good,, 
as it is scarcely possible to overwater a vigorous-growing plant with 
perfect drainage. This is the secret of keeping it free from insects. 
As soon as it has done flowering prune at once, cutting out as much 
old wood as possible, replacing it with some of the strongest shoots 
that have just flowered. Do not train the young growth too closely. 
As soon as the flowers can be recognised stop tying it in ; the weight 
of the flowers causes the branches to droop, which takes away the 
stiff formal appearance it otherwise would have.—J. J. C. 
[The lateral branch of Clianthus puniceus sent by our corre¬ 
spondent was nearly 3 feet long, with vigorous healthy leaves 6 to 
7 inches in length. There were twenty trusses of flowers and buds 
in different stages, one being produced from the axil of every leaf. 
It was one of the best grown examples of this plant that we have 
seen.] 
Banksia Rose Blooms. —The footnote to my remarks on this subiect 
has at least explained what the wri f er meant by his directions on pruning 
