1871.] 
TACSONIA SPECIOSA.—PINKS FOR EXHIBITION. 
169 
TACSONIA SPECIOSA. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
j HIS handsome species of Tcicsonia , which, was introduced from New Grenada 
by the late Mr. Bowmann, might have been seen last summer flowering in 
great beauty in one of the greenhouses at Chiswick. As will be evident 
at a glance, it is quite distinct, in the clear rosy red or carnation colour of 
its flowers, from any of those previously cultivated. It proves to be the Tacsonici 
speciosa of Humboldt, Bonpland, and Kunth, a plant which Dr. Masters, who 
has made the Passionflowers a study, regards as a variety of Tcicsonia tomentosci. 
There are, indeed, he observes, some half-dozen Tacsonias , which are so variable 
that it is impossible to separate them by any absolute character. 
For decorative purposes, we have here a rapid-growing climber, with downy 
branches, and shining deeply three-lobed leaves, downy beneath, with hooked ser- 
ratures, and having on the petioles four to six pairs of stalked glands. The stipules 
are leafy, obliquely ovate, dentate, prolonged into a slender point. The flowers 
are axillary, the tube cylindrical, green, 3-4 in. long, the sepals externally green, 
internally red, the petals pure rosy red or carnation colour. The coronet is in 
two rows, the upper of small whitish purple-spotted tubercles ; the lower, near 
the base of the tube, membranous, white, and deflexed. It is a splendid 
accession to an already beautiful group of greenhouse Passionflowers, and appears 
to be a free flowerer, requiring only the ordinary treatment of conservatory 
climbers.—T. M. 
PINKS FOR EXHIBITION. 
iOT only are Pinks very old favourites, but I feel assured that they would be 
greater favourites still, if they were more frequently grown to perfection, 
as they would be, if we could persuade those who cultivate them to plant 
them at the proper time, namely, the autumn. This is of the greatest 
importance. The practice of spring planting has become so generally adopted, 
that I am induced to urge these few words of advice on those who wish to 
have good well-laced flowers of the Pink, fit for exhibition. A great point is, 
moreover, gained by the proper preparation of the beds. They should be well 
trenched, and good rotten manure should be mixed in plentifully, while in 
addition to this, at the time of digging the bed before planting, a layer of rotten 
manure of about two inches in thickness should be spread throughout the bed, at 
about six inches below the surface ; this will be found very beneficial to the roots 
during the blooming season. It is also a matter of importance to have the beds 
raised some five or six inches above the walks ; and the surface of the earth should 
be left in a rounded form, so as to throw off the heavy rains we generally ex¬ 
perience during the autumn. 
This preparation of the beds should be carried out as early in October as 
3rd series.— iv. i 
