1872. ] 
CULTURE OF THE OLEANDER. 
189 
variety, pure and good. Mrs. H. Little (f.c.c.) and Magdala (f.c.c.) are two 
finely-coloured Variegated Zonal Pelargoniums , with yellow leaf-edges. The 
latter might be termed a greatly improved Lady Cullum. As compared with 
the two varieties certificated at the Park, these were by far the best. Fancy 
Pansies, Mrs. Neilson (f.c.c.), deep purple, with distinct white margin ; James 
Neilson (f.c.c.), deep golden yellow, margined with orange-maroon, and large 
dark blotches ; Miss M. M L Gacken (f.c.c.), pale cream, with large, dark 
purple blotches; and Lady Ross (f.c.c.), bright violet-purple top petals, large 
black-purple blotches, and margin of pale sulphur; shown by Messrs. Downie, 
Laird, and Laing, were all finely-coloured, showy flowers. Cupressus Lawsoniana 
lutea (f.c.c.), shown by Messrs. Cripps and Son, was a very attractive golden 
form, and as the plants had been grown out-of-doors, it must prove a very hand¬ 
some and acceptable ornamental tree. Clematis lanuginosa Excelsior , from the 
same exhibitors, was a capital double form of C. lanuginosa , with the flowers 
perhaps a little more deeply coloured than usual.—E. D. 
CULTURE OF THE OLEANDER. 
@ HE Oleander is, perhaps, the most enduring of greenhouse plants, when we 
consider its capacity to outlive the most irrational system of culture. 
W How frequently are large plants met with showing very little bloom 
whilst in reality the Oleander might be grown from cuttings, and bloomed 
with freedom when a foot or two high, and growing in 48 or 32-sized pots. 
That they furnish most useful ornamental stuff at that stage of their growth is 
undeniable, and when more developed they are gorgeous in the extreme. 
Nerium Oleander is a native of Southern Europe and Asia. Its natural 
habitat is the banks of streams, and in such peculiar situations it glows with deep, 
rosy flowers, and the darkest of green foliage, while all around is parched and dry. 
We may surmise that the Oleander enjoys a mean temperature approaching 
nearly to 78° in summer, and 58° in winter, a very happy medium, generally 
maintained in our warm greenhouses. Old authorities, from whom we are 
seldom called upon to differ, set down the winter temperature at 35° to 48 n , 
the summer at 60° to 75°. With the latter I do not disagree, but I maintain 
that to flower them well they should not be subjected to a temperature, to say 
the least, of less than temperate throughout the whole of the winter months, 
whilst during the summer the average greenhouse warmth will suffice. 
There are besides one or two points in their culture which should never be 
overlooked. Whilst growing, an abundance of root-moisture, and all the direct 
light and sunshine possible, should be given them. At this the growing period 
they delight in surface sprinklings more than is often credited. On the other 
hand, during winter all the light possible must be afforded, with only just suffi¬ 
cient moisture to maintain a healthy state. At all times the freest possible 
supply of fresh air must be given to them, without, of course, undue exposure to 
the baneful effects of cold draughts, which "check even the hardiest kinds of 
