68 
THE FLORIST. 
it is better to have a moderate-sized plant covered with bloom than one 
twice as large with only a few straggling flowers on it. 
The soil in which I have found this plant to do best in is good fibrous 
peat, nicely broken up, mixed liberally with silver sand. Care should 
be taken to have the ball in a properly moist state, and also the fresh 
soil in as nearly as possible the same condition as to moisture; the 
new soil should be regularly and rather (but not over) firmly pressed 
about the ball. Care should also be exercised to secure perfect drainage, 
and this should be done by nicely arranging a moderate quantity of 
thin crocks and covering them, so as to effectually prevent the fine soil 
from stopping up the drainage. 
I have said nothing about watering, but the proper application of 
this is a very important point with respect to securing success in the 
culture of this plant. When in an active growing state, a liberal supply 
is required, but the soil must never be saturated; and, when the 
season’s growth is completed, the plant should be very sparingly 
supplied with water ; and, in winter, I find it good practice when the 
plants are dry to place them for an hour in a pan filled with water, 
so that the crocks may be covered. This feeds the active roots and 
moistens the bottom soil without saturating the mould towards the 
surface where the thick fleshy roots are, and which are liable to suffer 
from excess of moisture at any season, particularly in wdnter. I 
have also said nothing about shading during summer, but I suppose 
that now-a-days I need not say that it would be hopeless to expect 
vigorous growth from a plant exposed to the full influence of the sun’s 
rays in a dry atmosphere deprived of the health-giving influence of 
night dews. I need hardly state, likewise, that if free rapid growth is 
expected shading must be applied as early in the season as the weather, 
&c., may render this advisable, and constant care must be exercised to 
maintain a moist atmosphere during dry weather. This should be 
done by sprinkling the passages and not by syringing the plants over¬ 
head, which ought only to be done during the summer months, and 
then only in the evening and when the weather is very bright and dry ; 
and neither shading nor moisture should be used in excess unless large 
plants without bloom should be desirable. 
Wm. May. 
REPORT ON ANNUALS GROWN FOR TRIAL AT 
CHISWICK, 1860. 
By Mr. Moore, Secretary to the Floral Committee. 
No. 11. 
Leptosiphon hybridusQIilmoxirC ).—This was a very interesting hybrid, 
the result, doubtless, of a cross between L. luteus and L. androsaceus, 
the peculiarities of these two species being evident amongst the varied 
progeny. The plants were dwarf and compact in habit, generally 
about 4 inches high, the flowers of several distinct colours, and for the 
most part larger than in L. luteus. Some were of a clear rosy-lilac 
colour, and very ornamental in character; others were more rosy. 
