1868. ] CULTURE OF RICHARD IAS-STANDEES MANURE FOR CUCUMBERS. 
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Figs for out-door culture, as it is mainly owing to the short duration of 
our summer season, not the actual lack of heat, that Figs so seldom answer 
in the open air in this country. B. 
CULTURE OF RICHARDIAS. 
'HESE useful and ornamental plants may he had in flower during the 
winter months by adopting the following mode of treatment. Bring 
the plants to rest early in summer, by exposing them to the sun in 
the open air, and gradually withholding water until properly dried off. 
Afterwards store them away where they may he protected from rain. 
Towards the end of August the first hatch may he started into growth. Be 
careful to select those roots that went earliest to rest; carefully clean the 
rootstocks from decayed matter, and repot in a rich turfy loam, with a suffi¬ 
ciency of sand and pieces of charcoal to keep the compost open. Give a 
good watering, and expose them in the open air. As the season advances 
they will require the protection of glass; but take care to fully expose the 
plants near the glass to the full action of sun and air, so as to maintain 
a sturdy and compact growth, for on this, in a great measure, depends the 
effectiveness of the leaves, which are arrow-head-shaped. The old R. astlii- 
opica is more particularly liable to get stalky and attenuated in growth when 
not fully exposed; water freely, and place the pots in pans kept full of 
water. R. albo-maculata is a particularly effective variety; the leaves are 
arrow-head-shaped, of a lively green colour, and distinctly marked with 
oblong white blotches parallel with the nerves, and the flower spathe is 
white. It is a native of Natal. 
By adhering to the foregoing directions, a succession of these showy 
plants may be had in flower during the whole winter, at a time when other 
flowering plants are scarce. I may add that these plants deserve cultivat¬ 
ing more extensively, being of the greatest service where flowering plants 
are in demand during the winter season. 
Wit ley Court. Geo. Westland. 
STANDEN’S MANURE FOR CUCUMBERS. 
|T has occurred to me that gardeners in general ought to be made 
aware of the great benefit to be derived from the use of Standen’s 
Gardeners’ Manure as a renovator of Cucumbers exhausted by over¬ 
bearing. I have used it this season with a success which was beyond 
my expectations. Five small lights with one plant in each, two of them 
of the sort called Lord Kenyon’s Improved, and three of Masters’ Prolific, 
commenced to bear the latter end of March, and have afforded a continuous 
supply to the present time (July 15th), and are still very healthy, and in 
full bearing. 
