1875. ] 
HOW TO GROW PORTULAOAS. 
141 
The chief interest and value of the book as a garden monograph depends, 
however, on the 48 plates from the author’s pencil with which it is adorned, and 
which serve to represent all the species, and the principal known varieties of the 
genus. Though somewhat wanting in artistic finish, the drawings are, on the 
whole, sufficiently accurate to give a very good notion of the plants intended to 
be represented ; and it will be most useful to all those who in future take up the 
study or culture of our garden Narcissi, to have such a complete series of illus¬ 
trations thus collected together for ready reference. Indeed, the book should 
find its way into the hands of all who delight in hardy flowers, and especially of 
those who take interest in this particular family. We hope to see it speedily 
followed by similar monographs of other popular flowers, and for which the pub¬ 
lishers should find an ever increasing demand.—T. Moore. 
HOW TO GROAY PORTULAOAS. 
PORTULAOAS are popular and well-known annuals, yet we do not commonly 
meet with them in situations which suit them, and which should be fully 
open to the direct rays of the sun. In such positions they display their 
glittering hues to great advantage. There is a peculiarity attached to 
their successful growth and blooming, and if this is not met, all the mistaken 
and erroneous, though well meaning, cultural coaxing possible will fail to draw out 
their good qualities. There exists a belief, and it is one grounded on many 
personal trials and attendant failures, that Portulacas will not transplant, or at 
least, that no real success can be attained with transplanted plants. That this is 
not the case, I distinctly aver; and more, I affirm that with a properly-prepared 
soil, and a properly chosen site, they will succeed most thoroughly. In fact, 
much of the success which is realised in their culture is mainly due to these two 
important considerations. 
The situation in which alone these plants will succeed is that whereon the 
sun shines with uninterrupted clearness during the whole or the major portion 
of the day, especially of that portion of it which comes between the hours of 
8 a.m. and 6 p.m. So much does success depend upon the sun’s influences— 
indeed, the sun seems to be their very life—that where buildings, or walls, or even 
trees, or a hill-slope exists on their northern side, so as- to increase the heat or 
radiation, their vigour and the redundancy of their blossoms will be increased in 
an equal ratio. 
The soil should be at once very light, open, and porous, and very rich ; or it 
may consist of sandy loam, road-scrapings, shingle, or small stone siftings, and 
rich, thoroughly-decomposed manure of any kind. The deeper this can be pre¬ 
pared the better, and if elevated slightly ridge-fasliion, so much the more will 
the plants flourish therein. Herein the seeds may be sown in very shallow drills, 
or according to the width of the space, broadcast, and they will succeed thoroughly. 
To prepare jfiants for transplanting, the seeds need to be sown in pans or 
boxes, not too thickly, and so that they may attain to a robust condition before 
