THUNBERGIA CHRYSOPS. 
245 
that it would not flower freely. All affirmed it would grow to any 
extent, but that the production of blossoms would be but limited. 
Being still anxious to retain the plant, I determined to collect 
what evidence was possible, and, by tracing the effect to the 
cause, try if by some other than the prevailing management it 
could not be made to bloom with the desired freedom. My 
inquiries resulted with the observation that in every case the 
plant bad been subject to influences conducive almost entirely 
to the production of “wood” alone. It bad been grown as far 
and as fast as it was possible, with the help of a high moist at¬ 
mosphere, and abundance of root room, but there all manage¬ 
ment seemed to be at an end. Many cultivators had fine plants 
so far as size and health was concerned, but not flowering, they 
seemed to regard it as worthless; and, therefore, gave it no fur¬ 
ther attention. 
Having learned thus much in the spring of the present year, 
I started my specimen in a small pot, with only a moderate tem¬ 
perature (that of a vinery), where the average heat for the first 
month did not exceed 55°. By May it had grown considerably, 
but I was pleased to notice the joints were near to each other, 
and the plant had an indurated appearance, which promised well; 
about the time mentioned it was repotted, and placed with a 
mixture of peat and loam into a twelve-inch pot, the branches 
being trained over a flat trellis. It was but moderately watered 
at any time afterwards, and never till it began to droop. During 
the next two months it stood in a position fully exposed to the 
sun, for, knowing my proceedings to be of the nature of an ex¬ 
periment, I determined to observe a course as nearly opposite as 
might well be to that generally adopted. 
It was not without trouble that attacks from red spider were 
repelled, as may be readily imagined from the position and treat¬ 
ment experienced by the plant, notwithstanding which, with 
frequent heavy applications of the syringe, they were kept down, 
and the specimen progressed fairly, until by the end of June the 
blossoms began to expand. The plant was then about fifteen 
feet in circumference, with healthy deep green leaves, somewhat 
smaller than the usual size, and in the course of the following 
month became almost covered with its bright violet and yellow 
flowers; the succession has been continued up to the present 
