1868. ] 
DIPLADENIA AMCENA. 
78 
DIPLADENIA AMCENA. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
® HIS, which w r e may at once state is a most valuable acquisition 
amongst stove plants, has been raised by Mr. Henry Tube, gardener 
to R. Nicholls, Esq., Bramley, near Leeds. Mr. Tube also raised 
$3* from seed the lovely Dipladenia amabilis , which was sent out in 1865 
by the Messrs. Bachhouse & Son, of Yorb. This latter was the re¬ 
sult of a cross between D. splendens and D. crassinoda, the former being 
the male parent, and the seed was sown in March, 1862. This D. amabilis 
is a great advance upon D. crassinoda, having a more robust habit, and 
being of a more brilliant colour, and a freer bloomer. 
Mr. Tube having thus been successful in obtaining this very decided 
improvement on D. crassinoda, next endeavoured to effect a similar 
improvement on D. splendens by crossing this fine species with D. amabilis, 
and the result is a batch of seedlings differing from each other in habit, 
one of which, that now figured, bloomed last summer, and has been named 
by Mr. Moore in the Gardeners' Chronicle , Dipladenia amcena. 
This beautiful variety bears a considerable resemblance to D. splendens 
in colour; but in every respect it is a great improvement on it. In form 
it is vastly superior, the lobes being stiff and round instead of reflexed and 
pointed ; and in habit, when we state that it partabes of that of the parent 
D. amabilis, it must be at once seen that in this respect it is also a great 
improvement on D. splendens. In blooming it is as free as D. amabilis, 
and has better foliage even than that variety, especially in respect to 
colour, as it does not brown as the other binds do, but preserves a glossy 
green hue through the autumn. 
Mr. Tube is so successful a grower of Dipladenias, that we cannot do 
better than give a short account of his method of growing them. The 
soil he uses is composed of rough fibrous peat, brohen to the size of wal¬ 
nuts, with a liberal mixture of sand, adding a few rough bones and good 
drainage, and potting firm. In the winter the plants are taben off the 
wires or trellis, and are bept dry in a house of medium temperature. If 
they are w T anted for a June exhibition, the plants are started into growth 
in November or December at the latest. If for August exhibitions the 
plants are started in February. Mr. Tube does not plunge the plants, 
finding, especially in winter, that they do better without. Dipladenias do 
best by beeping them moderately dry until in good foliage. Many of these 
plants are billed by over-watering. A moist atmosphere of 65° to 70° is 
best for early growth, gradually increasing to 80° and 85° as the plants 
progress. They also do best when grown near the glass and well exposed 
to the light. 
3rd Ser.— i. 
E 
