48 
THE FLORIST. 
the peculiar markings or pencillings which they exhibit, in flower or 
foliage, and others again for their diminutive growth and formality; 
but the Luculia belongs to none of these, though it possesses charms 
which must ever arrest attention. 
The Luculia, under good cultivation, soon developes itself into the 
most magnificent proportions, making it an object of beauty and interest 
in the conservatories of the wealthy. Its growth too may be moderated 
with almost equal interest, so as to adapt itself to the diminished space 
which persons of lesser means may have at their command. Clothed 
in rich and ample foliage of large size, and of the deepest glossy green 
colour, with the point of each shoot surmounted with a large flattened 
panicle of pale rose coloured flowers, exhaling a delicate though delicious 
fragrance, and flowering as it does through the dullest months of winter, 
from November to March, it must be acknowledged an object which few 
can behold but with pleasure. 
It seems matter for surprise, therefore, if not for regret, that this 
noble plant is not more frequently met with, seeing that its successful 
cultivation is comparatively simple and easy (as I will endeavour to 
show), and that tew will reward the cultivator better for the care and 
attention he may bestow upon it. The plant is reputed difficult of 
cultivation, and where met with it frequently presents a leggy, naked 
appearance, the very opposite of what it should be, and of what it will 
readily become under careful management. 
To persons about to commence its cultivation, it is better, for various 
reasons, to obtain a young healthy plant from the nurseryman, for 
under ar>y circumstances its propagation will be found tedious and slow. 
Cuttings are a long time forming roots, especially if proper care is not 
exercised in the selection of wood for that purpose. The best perhaps 
are those shoots which are freely put forth when the bloom is declining 
from the eyes nearest the base.of the flower head. When they have 
become a little firm, they should be taken off with a heel: that is, with 
a portion of the previous year’s wood attached to the base of the cutting, 
and this at once inserted in a well drained pot, filled up with sandy 
peat soil, and surfaced with silver sand. After receiving a watering 
sufficient to thoroughly moisten the whole mass, the pots containing 
them should be plunged half their depth in a brisk bottom heat, and 
when the callus is formed they should be plunged to the rim of the 
pots, and no more water, after the first watering, should be given them, 
unless it is found really necessary to preserve the cuttings from flagging. 
A situation in a close frame placed on the ^tan bed, in the propagating 
house, or covered with a large hand-glass, will be found preferable to 
covering them with the bell-glasses in ordinary use, as the small amount of 
air contained under the latter, while it may perhaps preserve the cuttings, 
to all appearance, fresher for the time, yet seems to encourage decay 
rather than the emission of roots ; and thus while the ardent, though 
maybe inexperienced cultivator, gazing on their freshness and promise, 
counts on his success, he becomes dismayed to find that the leaves drop 
off at the slightest touch, and rottenness rather than roots attends his 
more cherished expectations. To preserve the cuttings from flagging 
is important, but with such treatment as I recommend, this will scarcely 
