268 
THE S C H YN AN THUS. 
forms. Of course, while the plants are in an active state, the 
ordinary treatment must be allowed, keeping them in a proper 
temperature, and supplying the requisite moisture, with other 
attentions too well known to need repeating. 
THE iESCHYNANTHUS. 
This charming genus of epiphytes is rapidly advancing in 
general estimation, and even now occupy a place in every good 
collection, a natural consequence of the union of really splendid 
flowers with a graceful, ever-verdant, and unique style of growth. 
To say they well deserve our best attention is but uttering a 
truism, for when well managed they are among the most gorgeous 
of stove-plants, and some or other of file species may be had to 
blossom through the greater part of the year. 
There is a singularity in the character of these plants, uniting, 
as it does, the pendant habit of the class to which they belong, 
with the most copious production of foliage not usually observed 
in epiphytal vegetation, that, properly displayed, can never fail to 
arrest attention, and when seen with a due proportion of flowers, 
they are indeed fit objects of admiration to all. 
Their general management is of the easiest description, that is, 
they may be grown to exhibit the utmost luxuriance wherever a 
suitable temperature can he afforded, though some amount of 
practical skill is, as may be expected, required to induce the 
degree of beauty they are capable of attaining. The pendulous 
habit which prevails in the genus will naturally point out the 
propriety of cultivating them in baskets which may be suspended, 
or in some other position, where their natural character may be 
developed. 
It is well known to all who have attended to the culture of 
iEschynanthuses, that their roots never penetrate far below the 
surface of the material in which they are grown, and therefore the 
baskets to contain them need not exceed three or four inches in 
depth, the more usual size of six to eight inches deep being un¬ 
necessary, and indeed objectionable, from the probability of the 
extra quantity of soil becoming soured; it must, however, be 
understood that I do not recommend the roots to be restricted in 
