1875. ] 
PLEROMA MACRANTHUM AND ITS ALLIES. 
3 
more particularly when the blossoms begin to expand, we sedulously prevent the 
^admission of cold wind by placing very thin canvas over the ventilators. Should 
there happen to be a continuation of bright sunshine, shade the roof of the house 
with the same material for a few hours daily, which will prevent the flowers 
from dropping prematurely. 
I have, when required, used the same precaution with our Cherries on the 
open walls, as strong sunshine very frequently proves fatal to the crop. I have 
the blossoms fertilised daily with a camel-hair brush, which removes any doubt 
about a failure, as there are few, if any, bees to rove about through the different 
recesses of the flower. In the course of a little time, if fecundation has taken 
place, the organs begin to wither or decay, first the stamens, and then the petals. 
When the setting period has passed, the maximum heat should be advanced to 
52°, and the minimum to 48°, and it may so remain till the crop has stoned— 
always an anxious and a somewhat dangerous time. 
The tissue now ceases to increase, and takes a palo yellow colour, owing to 
the growth of the stone, and should there have been previous mismanagement, 
the fruit will keep dropping off till three-parts have fallen. There is now little 
danger of damage from an increase of heat. The night-temperature may range 
from 56 J to 60°, and that of the day to 70° by sun-heat. The use of the syringe 
should be resumed, since that promotes greatly the growth of the fruit and the 
health of the foliage. Tepid weak manure-water will be very advantageous, 
particularly where the crop is heavy, and the pots full of roots. 
Should the black or green aphis make their appearance, the house should at 
once be fumigated, or they will soon make sad havoc among the foliage. Pooley’s 
tobacco-powder is an excellent remedy, applied by his puff-distributor when the 
trees are moist. There is the Cherry-caterpillar, too, which is very troublesome at 
times, and which can only be destroyed by hand-picking, as it rolls itself securely 
in the leaves.— Alexander Cramb, Tortworth. 
PLEROMA MACRANTHUM AND ITS ALLIES. 
N the leading garden journal there appeared, some two years ago, a notice 
or two of the above-named plant [under the name it has usually borne in 
gardens, Lasiandra macrantha , but which, according to M. Triana, 
Sp should give place to that of Pleromci semideccindruvi]. I then ordered one, 
and got what we had already plenty of, namely, Pleromci Benthamianum [which 
is quite a different thing]. Considering that there must have been some mistake, 
I ordered a plant from another quarter, and this was dwarf, and altogether a 
different plant. The name will doubtless, in due time, become fixed to the true 
plant. Of late the Chrysanthemum has been gaining ground, and very deservedly 
so, for charming the autumn with exhibition and decorative displays ; but it 
seems to me that, with our extended knowledge and rich collections, we by no 
means make a good use of them. Many finely-coloured plants bloom naturally 
in the autumn that would enrich the display of the Chrysanthemum by affording 
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