February 15, 1908. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
”3 
r 
There are several species of Marvel of 
Peru, but the common one to which the 
name most properly belongs is a native 
of Tropical America, and for that reason 
is not quite hardy in this country, but 
can be kept much in the same way as 
Dahlia tubers. Possibly less trouble 
even than that is necessary if the roots 
are placed in a box and covered with 
cocoanut fibre and then placed in a green¬ 
house or some other structure from which 
frost is merely excluded. These tuberous 
roots can be kept until all danger of 
frost is past and then planted out-of-doors 
sufficiently deeply to prevent late frosts 
from injuring the crowns. As the tem¬ 
perature gets higher so the young shoot 
would push above the soil and according 
to strength produce stems 18 in. to 3 ft. 
in height and forming a mass 2 ft. wide 
or more. 
The flowers are produced in long con¬ 
tinued succession/so that although each 
individual lasts for a short period, others 
are produced in succession till frost or 
very cold weather puts a stop to growth 
in the autumn. Those who have not -yet 
got plants could either procure tubers or 
seed. The latter would be the most easy 
of accomplishment, as most seedsmen 
would have seeds of the Marvel of Peru. 
Different seedlings give rise to flowers of 
different colours, some being yellow, 
others rose, shaded with violet, and a 
great many of them are striped. These 
flowers would be about the size of a shil¬ 
ling with a long tube and are fragrant. 
Those who procure seeds should sow 
them at once in heat, where they have 
such convenience, and after the seedlings 
Marvel of Peru Mirabilis Jalapai. 
(Mirabilis Jalapa.) 
have made the first rough leaf, they 
should be potted off singly and grown on 
in a cold frame where they will be pro¬ 
tected from frost and get ventilation dur¬ 
ing the day. Towards the end of May 
they should get more air until at last the 
lights can be left off all night to harden 
them before planting them out about the 
end of May or beginning of June. 
-- 
Gamellias 
M ■ As Pot Plants. 
lhese plants hardly seem popular, 
though why is hard to say, for in a well- 
grown plant there is beauty both in the 
flowers and the foliage. They are hardy 
and can be- grown in the open air in many 
parts of England. 
Their propagation is by seed, cuttings 
and grafting. Seed may be sown in 
spring in pans of lignt sandy soil placed 
in a warm frame, shifting the seedlings 
into small pots when large enough and 
potting them on as thev require it, keep¬ 
ing in a cold frame and admitting plenty 
of fresh air in suitable weather. Cuttings 
should be chosen from firm young shoots 
of this season's growth, and will root 
freely if inserted in pots filled with a mix¬ 
ture of loam, peat and sand, and plunged 
in a gentle bottom heat. When rooted, 
pot singlv in 3 in. pots, place them in a 
warm frame and keep close and shade 
from the bright sun until they have re¬ 
covered, and give’ plenty of air. 
Cuttings offer the best means of raising 
Madaren and Sons. 
stock for grafting on, and the single red 
is best for this purpose. The time for 
taking cuttings is July and August. Graft¬ 
ing is best done in spring just before ac¬ 
tive growth takes place, whip grafting be¬ 
ing the best. The soil best suited for the 
Camellia is two parts of turfy loam, one 
of peat and one of leaf mould, with a 
little sand to keep the mixture open. Pot¬ 
ting is best done just after flowering, 
using clean, well-drained pots, and small 
pieces of charcoal mixed with the crocks 
will ensure the drainage being more per¬ 
fect. Pot firmly but not hard. Pruning 
consists in cutting off straggling shoots 
and other growths which tend to spoil the 
shape of the plants in any way. Water¬ 
ing needs strict attention; never let the 
plants know the want of it, and never 
keep them in a sodden state, which will 
cause them to become unhealthy. In 
watering, consider the time of the year, 
the prevailing weather, whether the plants 
are in active growth, in a high tempera¬ 
ture or a cool one, also the size of the 
plants and whether they are pot-bound or 
otherwise. Each of these conditions must 
be studied, so as to determine the amount 
of water to give and when to give it. Soot 
water mar be applied when the buds are 
swelling. The foliage should be kept 
clean by syringing and sponging. 
At the end of June the plants may be 
placed out of doors in a half-shaded situ¬ 
ation, taking them in again in October, 
admitting plenty of air. When grown in 
pots, the buds are apt to drop, this being 
caused chiefly by sudden changes of tem¬ 
perature and irregular watering. 
Regarding insects, the scale is the 
worst. These may Be destroyed by spong¬ 
ing the leaves with soft-soap water now 
and then. Success in Camellia growing 
is to be found in good cultivation and 
strict attention given throughout all the 
stages of their growth. H. Rowles. 
.. Marvel of Peru . , 
