284 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 7, I860. 
what is done by the nurserymen about Paris and Brussels. If 
what has been told me is true, wonders are done with these plants 
at Versailles and elsewhere. If plants art: procured this spring, 
it would be advisable to plant them out in June, in order to give 
them a more vigorous growth than they could have in any stove, 
unless very carefully attended to; but unless the plants are 
pretty strong, it would, perhaps, be as well not to depend for a 
striking effect from them the first year, and, therefore, not to give 
them a very prominent place until the second season, when they 
will have the advantage of receiving no check in packing, carriage, 
Ac. V here this means is not found convenient, then, wherever 
there is a Cucumber-bed, the plants may be raised from seed, and 
grown in a vinery, or even in a warm greenhouse,—though in 
general the plants would not make much show planted out tiie 
first season ; but they would do the second year, and after that 
you could divide the roots and supply all the couutry side when 
once you had made the Cannas fashionable. Most of our large 
nurserymen and seedsmen would supply a few seeds of such 
kinds for from 4 d. to 6cl. a packet. The seeds, if all right, are as 
hard and as round as small metal shots ; and there is no diffi¬ 
culty in raising plants if the seeds are softened by soaking them 
for ten hours in water at about 120°, and sowing them in sandy 
loam and peat, and plunging the pot in a brisk, sweet hotbed, 
such as would do for Cucumbers or Melons. If this be done in 
the beginning of March, the plants may be placed separately' in 
small pots in the hotbed, and by the time they are getting too 
large, the greenhouse, kept a little close at one end, will do lor 
them, or even a window in a sitting-room. 
In order that “Bose” and others interested might have more 
information than I could give, I wrote to a friend who has done 
more with Cannas than I have done lately, and the following is 
the purport of his reply :—“ I agree with you that Cannas and 
many other fine-foliaged plants make a line display out of doors, 
in summer. Last summer I turned out a tall plant of Musa 
coccinea, and it did remarkably well. The Cauna I chiclly use is 
iridiflora. The plants last season were from eight to ten feet in 
height, a mass ot fine foliage. No flowers are formed or shoots 
made after they come out of the stove. The flowers are worth 
little except in winter. Some of these Cannas were supposed to 
be Musas by a gentleman newly arrived from India. I used 
them chiefly'’ in a tropical garden, planted permanently with 
i uccas, many species ; Arundo donax; Bambusa, of kinds, 
Gyneriwn urgenteum , Ac. In J uue behind and among these the 
Cannas were introduced, along with the strongest kind of Indian 
Corn, Holcus Saccharatus, Humea elegans, Ac., and the effect 
was good. The Cannas sow themselves at times ; but when 
plants are obtained and large stools I manage them thus :— 
About the first or second week in October 1 dig up as many 
plants as I think I shall require, and divide them very freely 
with the spade, leaving only one or two shoots from three to six 
feet in height, and of the present season’s growth, and with no 
great amount of roots to the piece. I then put each of these 
pieces into a twelve-inch pot, putting merely a crock over the 
hole, and filling up with rich loam, and afterwards I treat the 
plants as it they were half aquatics. These flower all the winter 
in a temperature of about 50° by fire beat and a good rise from 
sun heat. About April the plants are put into a cool greenhouse 
where no fire is used. About the beginning or middle of May 
me plants are set out under tlie protection of a Yew tree. Towards 
the end of the month, or when finishing bedding, I plant them 
ou ‘“* com P°st as rich as I can get, and water and puddle them 
well like one of the old school. For mere summer display I think 
the roots would require little more care than Dahlias.” 
Rose may now judge whether Cannas will be favourites or 
not. A twelvemonth past last autumn they were used for the 
centre of small grouped beds at the Crystal Palace; "but they 
will get a great deal stronger when the rotten dung, Ac., can be 
gn en so freely as net unduly to stimulate mere bedding plants. 
R. Eish. 
HEATING A SMALL GREENHOUSE. 
U your number for January 24th, a correspondent (who is 1 
suppose, like myself an amateur) wished to know the best mode 
ot heating a small greenhouse. In reply, I should like, through 
youi valuable paper, to state the manner I heat my small house. 
It is a lean-to greenhouse, with three-feet back lights, facing 
south; side covered with glass 12 feet by 10 feet; 7 feet by 
8 feet at the east end is tiled, which 1 have for the purpose of 
potting, and for keeping pots and other small articles. 
It is heated by a small flue, height two bricks (flat common 
bricks), and the top covered with common bricks. The flue runs 
under the front stage, along part of the west end, and then under 
the centre of the back stage. The size of the fire is about 12 inches 
high, 12 inches broad, and 18 inches long. The bottom of 
the flue is about 5 inches above the grate, and by that means 
1 get a good draught . A cartload of coals which cost (in Sunder¬ 
land) '.is., will serve tlie whole winter. I generally make the fire 
up about eight or nine o’clock, P.M., which keeps a good heat until 
seven o’clock the next morning, and secure from any frost, from 
40° to 45°. If required, I could have from 45° to 50°. 
During the late frost in December, on one occasion the ther¬ 
mometer stood outside at 12°, I did not lose a single plant, 
although I am not more than three hundred yards from the sea¬ 
shore. 
In the neighbourhood there are thirty or forty small green¬ 
houses, all successfully heated by small flues.— An Amateur 
and Constant Reader. 
HARDY" ELOWERING HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 
( Continued from page 224.) 
BOMAREA. 
Xat. ord., Amaryllidaeese. Linn. Hexandna Monogynia. 
Generic Character. — Perianth six-parfed; sepals and petals 
differing inform. Pet aline filaments earliest. Capsule obtusely 
triagonal, dehiscing at top. This genus is chiefly composed 
of species removed from Alstromeria. 
Bomarea acutifolia (acute-leaved). Leaves oblong-lanceolate, 
many-nerved, twisted at base, nerves pilose above ; umbel 
many-flowered, peduncles hispid. 9 ft. Red and yellow. Sept. 
Mexico. 
B. -punctata (dotted-flowered). This variety of the 
preceding is chiefly characterised by having its petals dotted 
inside, (i ft. Sept. Mexico. 
B. uiRTELEA (smaii-haired). Stem very hairy; leaves densely 
hairy beneath; perianth rather unequal, sepals sub-oval, red, 
petals spatulate, orange. 5 ft. Red and yellow. July. Mexico. 
This, we believe, is the same as B. Maclcanica. 
B. ovata (egg-shaped-leaved). Stem smooth; leaves smooth, 
strongly nerved; peduncles six; sepals obovate ; petals spatu- 
late. Red and green. Chili. Tlie same, we think, as B. unci - 
folia. 
B. Salsilla (Salsilla). Stem terete, smooth; leaves ovate-ob- 
long, obtuse, smooth, petioles twisted; umbels rnauy-flowered, 
peduncles two-flowered; bracts obovate-spatulate, coloured; 
petals with black patch in centre of inner ones. 5 ft. Green 
and crimson. June. S. America. 
The Bomareas are a section of plants divided lately from 
Alstromeria. Like that genus, they require deep, dry, rich, light 
soil; the roots to be covered with tan or dry ashes, to proteot 
them in winter. They have all a twining stem and a triangular 
seed-pod, which are sufficient characteristics to divide them from 
Alstromeria. Trained to a wall or to stakes they are beautiful 
objects. Propagated by seeds and division of the roots. 
By seeds. —Gather them Avlien ripe, and keep them in a dry 
room till March or April; then sow them in pots in a gentle 
heat; as soon as the seedlings are up repot them in small pots, 
and when well established plant them out where they are to 
bloom. 
By division. —Take up the plants very carefully in April and 
divide them with a strong knife, taking care not to injure the 
tuberous roots, and preserve an eye or two to each part. Replant 
immediately in a proper place for them, where they will have 
space to grow in fresh soil. They will flower the same year, if 
not divided too severely. 
BOLTONIA. 
Bat. ord., Asteraceae. Linn. Syngenesia superflua. 
Generic Character. — Involucre imbricated, scales narrow. 
Receptacle foveolate, rather pilose. Pappus toothed, awned, 
rather two-horned. 
Boi.tonia asteroides (Starwort-like). Leaves lanceolate, all 
quite entire, smooth. 3 ft. Flesh. Sept. N. America. 
B. GLASTiEOLiA (Woad-leaved). Lower leaves toothed, glaucous. 
1 ft. 6 in. Sept. N. America. 
A genus of pretty plants but little known, allied to the beautiful 
genus Stenactis. They require a light sandy loam. 
