128 
LESCHENAULTIAS. 
nearly covered the top of the pot; and when in winter quarters, 
were stationed on the same shelf as before. They were potted 
again in March and July of 1847, and also in March of the 
present year; they are now two feet six inches in diameter, and 
about two feet high, literally covered with flowers. The substance 
of my observations in the course of th^ir progress may be summed 
up thus :—put in rough peat of medium texture; keep the plants 
constantly where they may receive the greatest light; let the 
supply of air and water be proportionate to the advance of the 
roots and branches; remove the flowers from young growing 
plants; shade the new shoots from the strongest sunlight, and 
mature them thoroughly in the autumn by exposure to the sun 
and air. 
As regards training, I would recommend the cultivator to begin 
early, and by thus laying a good foundation, he will render his future 
operations much less troublesome; when the plants are first 
potted, draw out the lower branches, and fasten them, horizontally, 
across the mouth of the pot; stop all the upper ones by pinching 
off their points, and arrange them equally on all sides of the 
plant, so as to form a circular head. By frequent stopping, 
formosa may be rendered so bushy as to require no other support 
than a central stick for the main stem; this is, however, the 
easiest of the family, because naturally dwarfer than the other 
species, some of which, especially hiloba , are so strongly inclined 
to run out long straggling stems, that it is only with the most 
constant care it can be kept in order; still, by commencing while 
the plant is young, and persevering through the first two years 
of its progress, its rambling habit may be checked, and handsome 
specimens attained. 
The genus contains seven species, the most beautiful of which 
are— 
Formosa. Too well known to require description, and the only 
remark worth making in respect to it is the extraordinary fact, 
that no seminal varieties have yet been raised; it seems strange 
that no attempts should have been made to improve in this way 
such a favorite plant, for improvement in the size and brilliancy 
of the flowers would reap a rich reward. 
Biloba. Of this species there are several varieties, though cul¬ 
tivated but for a short time, as compared with the preceding; the 
best of them is one called nana , because of its more compact 
