344 
THE FLORIST. 
wet; it is a beautiful white, and is good either for beds or edging. I 
fear I am trespassing too much on your patience respecting the propa¬ 
gation of bedding plants, but such is the method I adopt, and have always 
succeeded admirably. 
Stanton Rectory. Charles Hatherill. 
[In our September number we gave a short description of Mr. Grey 
Cotes’ garden, at Stanton, at the time noticing the great number of 
good things which Mr. Hatherill has propagated and kept with but 
little means. The above communication will prove interesting and 
useful, iwe doubt not, to a numerous class of our readers, who may profit 
largely by the practical information it affords for all interested in flower 
gardening; and who, now-a-days, is not?— Ed. Florist.] 
MANDEVILLA SUAVEOLENS. . 
This justly admired climber is the only species I am aware of belonging 
to the genus—suggesting at once the idea that it stands alone unrivalled. 
For what is more delightful on entering a greenhouse or conservatory in 
summer than to see this plant arrayed in its chaste blossoms of snowy white¬ 
ness and inhale the rich fragrance it so abundantly emits. The flowers are 
large and noble, and produced in abundance in large axillary racemes. 
To grow the Mandevilla well it should be planted out in a properly 
prepared bed or border in the conservatory, using a compost of two parts 
maiden loam to one of well rotted leaf mould. Let the soil be nicely 
chopped and mixed together, then fill the border at least 18 inches in. 
depth, or deeper if the drainage is good. This done, turn the plant 
gently out of its pot (if grown in one), and carefully rub off any matted 
or decayed parts from the roots ; then plant it against a pillar or trellis, 
pressing the soil closely about the roots, so that they may at once receive 
fresh nourishment. Tie its top loosely to the trellis, giving a moderate 
supply of water to settle down the soil, and the work is finished. 
Being of rapid growth the next provision to be made is plenty of 
space for the future development of this charming climber—the more 
room that can be afforded the more beautiful will be the display of 
blossom. It is possible to train it in various fantastical forms—lofty 
trellises answer well—still the festoon system, using strong cord or wire, 
especially if grown in a span-roofed house, will have a more graceful 
effect. It requires some attention to tie and regulate the young shoots 
as they progress in growth; if neglected they will get so twisted and 
entangled as to puzzle one to unravel them, and then not without doing 
considerable damage to the flowers. 
Like most rapid growing plants, whose tender shoots engender or 
become a prey to insects, the Mandevilla, I think, is the greatest victim 
in that respect, particularly to the ravages of the green and black aphis. 
These pests will attack it while in the height of floral beauty, requiring 
the utmost vigilance to destroy them by timely fumigating with tobacco 
