March 8, 18&0. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
423 
quantity"- of these propagated each season, as even in a 
young state they are objects of great attraction. 
I at one time held an appointment where this plant 
was considered quite indispensable in any state, and I 
was induced to grow them on in large quantities, some¬ 
what as follows :—Cuttings were taken early in March, 
and inserted singly in 60-sized pots in leaf-soil and 
sharp sand in equal parts, placed in an ordinary pro¬ 
pagating case, and kept close and shaded for about a 
week, then gradually inured to light ; and after they 
had emitted roots—generally in three or four weeks—a 
little air was admitted, and gradually exposed. When 
these pots were full of roots—not pot-bound, however— 
they were shifted into 48-sized pots in loam and leaf- 
soil equal parts ; placed in a frame with a slight 
bottom heat, shaded from bright sunshine, and kept 
close till they had taken to the new soil, and had been 
hardened as above described. 
Their next shift was into their flowering pots—5-in. 
or 6-in. are large enough the first season—in a compost 
as recommended above for old plants, when they had 
cold frame treatment all the summer. In their earlier 
stages they ought to be frequently pinched, to lay a 
good foundation of growth; but if wanted to bloom 
the first season, they must not be pinched after the first 
week in June. Grown as above these make fine plants 
the first season, and bloom from early in October until 
January, the old plants prolonging the blooming 
season by another two months. 
Some are inclined to look upon the Lasiandra as a 
comparatively useless flowering plant, the petals drop¬ 
ping with any little draught or slight shake the plants 
may receive. All such accidents are easily obviated 
by a little judicious forethought in arranging them, 
and, indeed, any plant may occupy the wrong position 
in a house arranged for effect oi' otherwise. It is 
prudent, therefore, and worthy of first consideration, 
to place plants so easily destroyed by draughts out of 
the reach of harm. At the season when these plants 
above are in bloom, draughts mean death to all plants 
that require even an ordinary greenhouse temperature. 
I have used blooms of the Lasiandra macrantha for 
table and other decorative purposes with telling effect. 
All that is necessary to make them useful for decorative 
work in a cut state is a slight touch with florists’ gum 
at the base of the petals, and they will keep fresh and 
in position for a week in an ordinary heated room. 
Under sound cultivation the Lasiandra keeps toler¬ 
ably free from insects, green-fly being its most persistent 
enemy, which is easily kept in check by a light 
fumigation occasionally. It should never be syringed 
at any stage of its growth, as an observant cultivator 
will at once understand from the appearance of the 
foliage ; in fact, watering overhead while in its 
young state is very inimical to its well-being, and 
should never be practised with this or kindred subjects. 
There are few plants that are so accommodating from a 
training point of view, and this not only makes a fine 
specimen on a frame of any shape, but also lends itself 
readily as a wall or screen plant, for which latter 
purpose it is admirably suited.— J. Proctor, Glenjinart, 
BALSAMS, COCKSCOMBS AND 
MELONS-SOWING-. 
Being a believer in the adage of Bacon that “He 
that questioneth much shall learn much,” I will 
endeavour to reply to your correspondent, “ Corps” 
(p. 412), who wishes to know when he should sow the 
above, that he may have them fit for exhibition on 
July 16th. “Corps ” should be able to judge of the 
standard of excellence displayed in previous seasons, 
and to calculate what the chances of success may be ; 
but I may promise that much more depends on the cul¬ 
tivation than in timing the seed sowing. Taking them 
in the order named, of Balsams he should procure seeds 
of a good strain, and sow them thinly in a shallow pan 
in the first week of April, placing the pan in a frame 
on a brisk hot-bed of fermenting material, where 
the seed will soon germinate. Pot off singly into 60’s 
when large enough, potting them deep so that the 
cotyledons or seed-leaves stand just above the soil, and 
then return them to the frame until they are nicely 
established. I usually allow them to open a few flowers 
when they are in 6-in. pots, so as to be able to judge 
which are best worth potting-on — some are sure to 
produce single blooms—as well as to procure diversity 
of colour. Balsams like a rich soil, light and deep 
potting ; the roots are thus enabled to run freely, and 
by placing them well down at each shift legginess is 
prevented. 
Cockscombs should be sown about the same time ; 
they are lovers of heat, both top and bottom, and 
succeed with much the same treatment. A good 
strain is absolutely necessary to produce large “combs.” 
It is preferable to keep them in 60’s until they show 
the “combs,” but afterwards push them along rapidly. 
They can be placed in a cooler temperature, and shaded 
when fully developed ; very careful watering is then 
necessary, especially if potted deep to make them 
dwarf. Melons may be sown towards the end of 
April, and as it is not advisable to have all one’s eggs 
in the same basket, variety is essential. Some sorts 
come in quicker than others, but much depends on the 
weather and the amount of sunshine we may be blessed 
with in 1890.— Geo. Potts, Junr., Flmside Gardens, 
Northiam. 
--KUO- 
A GAY CONSERVATORY’: HOW 
TO MAINTAIN IT. 
(Concludedfrom, p. 407). 
Autumn. 
The dark green summer, with its massive hues, 
Fades into autumn’s tincture manifold ; 
A gorgeous garniture of fire and gold 
The high slope of the Ferny hill indues. 
Hartley Coleridge. 
The season of the “fall of the leaf” having arrived, 
and occasional heavy rains and high winds, its con¬ 
comitants, being more or less frequent, those plants 
which have been luxuriating in the late high temper¬ 
ature must now be got under glass. Before accomplishing 
this, all pots and plants should be examined, with a 
view to ascertain their condition, the former receiving 
a good wholesome scrubbing, and the latter thoroughly 
expunged of any insect pests which may have gathered 
round them during their open-air experience ; and this 
not only from a prudential point of view, but from an 
economical one also, as the plants will soon express 
their gratitude in the most satisfactory manner by a 
perfect look of health, glossy leaves, and beauteous 
flowers. 
Soft-wooded Plants. —The flower of the season par 
excellence is the Chrysanthemum, and although I have 
placed it here amongst the so/t-wooded subjects, it 
should, indeed, have hard or well-ripened shoots to 
enable it to produce those large, symmetrical, and well- 
balanced blooms which are the aim and pride of our 
champion growers. 
Without the Chrysanthemum, in fact, our houses 
would look dull indeed, and although there are other 
plants in great variety, yet with most of us the 
“autumn queen” is an absolute necessity, a veritable 
sine qua non. If large flowers are not required, nice, 
clean, healthy, spring-struck specimens which have been 
pinched once or twice during the summer, will make 
admirable subjects for conservatory decoration. And 
I think, in addition to the large-flowering varieties, 
Pompons and singles may be used with enhanced 
effect. All flowers depend in a greater or less degree 
upon their association with other plants or flowers, for 
the inherent charms which each and all possess, and 
unless some taste is manifested in the arrangement of 
these things, much of their grace and intrinsic merit 
will assuredly be destroyed. 
In a house of mixed plants the temperature should 
not be allowed to fall below 45° ; ventilation must 
receive intelligent attention; and a moist stagnant 
atmosphere must be avoided. All extremes should be 
guarded against, as the converse of the above would be 
equally destructive. Adopt therefore the happy medium, 
and maintain a cool and genial one. 
Under this heading the zonal Pelargoniums, spring- 
struck Fuchsias, Salvia splendens, Chinese Primulas, 
Tree Carnations, Sedurn spectabile, &c., &c., must 
perforce be included. Of zonals it may be remarked 
that for blooming at this period special preparation is 
incumbent during the summer months. Cuttings 
struck in the early days of the year should be potted 
on and exposed to the full influence of Sol’s rays. All 
disposition to flower should be prudently suppressed, 
and if the plants show a tendency to become tall, they 
should be checked by pinching. All flower stems 
must be taken off as they appear, and the pots placed 
out of doors on a hard bottom of coal-ashes in the 
full glare of the sun. Treated thus the wood will 
maturate, and cousequently be in the best possible con¬ 
dition to produce fine blooms. Tree Carnations and 
Sedum spectabile, or the rosy Stonecrop, may be 
similarly treated ; but Fuchsias, Primulas aud Salvias 
wi 1 suggest a different modus operandi. 
Hard-wooded Plants. —Camellias, Citrons, Azaleas, 
Rhododendrons, &c.,must now be got under cover, and 
the attention here required is principally one of clean¬ 
liness. 
Bulbous Plants will comprise such things as Vallotas, 
Cyclamens, Begonias, Roman Hyacinths, &e., each and 
all of which are capable of producing a fine effect. 
Climbers. — Passiflora racemosa, Tacsonia Yan 
Yolxemi, and Plumbago capensis, are all fine things in 
their way, and go to augment the general effect of the 
conservatory by reason of their long pendulous arms or 
branches. 
Foliage Plants. —These will bring up and make the 
sum total of our lists sufficiently formidable. Anyhow, 
we cannot dispense with such elegant vegetable forms ; 
therefore, one is constrained to quote Acacia lophantha, 
Dracsenas, Grevillea robusta, Asparagus plumosus, 
Ferns and Palms in variety, which, with others of cha¬ 
racteristic foliage, are necessary to tone down the more 
brilliant hues of Flora’s queen. 
A caution may here be administered, which is that 
flowers coming into bloom will require more water for 
the elaboration of their swelling buds than those which 
are going out, or past their meridian and on the wane. 
Hence some little judgment is necessary to distinguish 
between them. 
Winter. 
0 Spring return! return auspicious May! 
But sad will be thy coming, and forlorn, 
If she return not with thy cheering ray, 
Who from these shades is gone, gone far away. 
William Lisle Bowles. 
We have arrived now at a period, perhaps the most 
interesting, if not the most satisfactory of the four 
seasons of the year, inasmuch as the conservatory will, 
or should now, present a remarkable contrast to the 
wintry aspect of Dame Nature outside, who, without 
the aid of artificial means of regeneration, sits sulky 
and stagnant, arvaiting a more congenial influx of 
warmer weather. 
A little cire and attention is all that is required to 
manipulate the plants which are to be had for the 
asking, and the trouble involved during the preparatory 
period will now give such brilliant results, as, by 
comparison, are not to be obtained at any other time of 
the year. 
Soft-wooded Plants. —Chrysanthemums will still 
exhibit a few welcome blossoms, especially if the plants 
were struck iu spring, potted on, and stopped with a 
view to quantity rather than quality of flowers. 
Zonal Pelargoniums will be a great feature if the 
requisite attention has been accorded them during the 
summer months. This treatment consists in potting on, 
pinching back, and denuding them of all flower buds 
until September, when they should be housed, and 
introduced to the conservatory after the main batch of 
Chrysanthemums have done their duty. Primulas are 
indispensable, and should help to make the house gay 
and interesting. Seed of these may, for succession, 
be sown in March, April aud May. Cinerarias are 
also a desideratum, and require much the same cultural 
details as the Chinese Primrose. A few pots of 
Russian Violets may be used with much effect, as 
regards their odoriferous properties. 
Hard-wooded Plants. —Amongst this class of plants 
the Camellia stands unrivalled, and then follow in 
rapid succession Azaleas (both the Indian and Ghent 
sections), Epacris, Pimeleas, Genistas, Deutzias, &c., 
&c., until, with hard-wooded plants alone, the conser¬ 
vatory might be rendered independent of all other 
sections of floriculture. 
Bulbous Plants. —We cannot, however, dispense 
with these beautiful subjects, as, apart from the sim¬ 
plicity with which they can be made to produce their 
lovely hues, they are ever welcome on account of their 
refreshing sweetness and intrinsic merits. Hyacinths, 
Dutch and Roman; Narcissus, in endless variety; 
Tulips, Seillas, Cyclamens, Freesias, and such things 
as Lily of the Valley and Solomon’s Seal, go to make 
up plenty of material, of a floral kind, to pick and 
choose from. 
Foliage Plants. —As if there were not enough of other 
plants, mention may be made of Begonia metallica, 
Grevillea robusta, Ficus elastica and its beautiful 
variegated form, Aspidistra lurida variegata, Palms in 
variety, Ferns, &c., &c. ; and it is only necessary to 
mention these to warrant their inclusion in the general 
display. 
The production of floral matter during the dull dead 
season of the year is mainly one of capital, enterprise, 
and cultural skill. Given these desirable aids to 
gardening, taste and artistic arrangement will complete 
the rest, and thus may the most diverse of plants be 
brought together, and focussed, as it were, into one 
beautiful scene of surpassing loveliness. 
A selection only of many good things here enumerated 
will, with forethought and intelligent culture, most 
certainly contribute to bring about a floral picture of 
the most permanent, if of the most kaleidoscopic 
description.— C. B. Green. 
