210 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
being quite hardy, of quick growth, and an abundant bloomer, not rising 
more than a foot in height. We believe the merit of raising and flowering 
the first plants in this country is due to Mr. Moves of Durdham Down 
Nursery, Bristol, who received roots from Mexico. Humboldt and Bonpland 
met with it on the volcanic mountain of Jorullo, where it grows in rocky 
situations; it has also been found in New Spain by'Mocino and Sesse, and 
in various parts of Mexico by different individuals. — Pax. Mag. Bot. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
F. H. Harvey. — The general management of Gesnerias may be resolved 
into a period of excitement and active growth and one of decided dormancy; 
the latter commences about the present time, the plant itself indicating the 
exact period by ceasing to produce flowers. As soon as this is observed 
water should be gradually withheld, 50 that in about a month the earth in 
which it has been growing may be quite dry, and the tuber at rest: in this 
state it may be preserved through the winter on a dry shelf in the greenhouse, 
or turned out of the mould and kept in any situation secure from frost and 
moisture. About the middle of February is the beginning of the active 
season: a hotbed or tan-pit, having a bottom heat of about 75°, is the 
most appropriate place in which to plunge them after being fresh potted; 
here they may continue until May or June, or even till they bloom, unless 
the space is required for other purposes, when they should be removed to the 
plant stove or a warm part of the greenhouse to produce their flowers. The 
soil they delight in is a mixture of fibrous peat or heath-soil and well-decayed 
leaf-mould, in equal quantities, or leaf-mould alone, kept porous by a suf¬ 
ficient proportion of sand and small stones. A free drainage and a liberal 
supply of water, both to the roots and foliage while growing, are essential to 
the production of fine plants. This treatment applies equally to them all. 
G. tubiflora seems to require stopping (pinching the ends of the shoots off) 
once or twice during the early stages of its gx-owth, in order to induce a more 
compact form_We must apologise for the omission last month, but cannot 
conceive how the mistake occurred. 
Mr. Hamp’s seedling Petunia, “ Inimitable,” presents a very desirable fea¬ 
ture in the colours of this favourite flower : the ground-colour is deep flesh, 
margined broadly with brilliant crimson lake. This is permanent, being 
equally strong in new or old flowers. The eye is very large, richly pencilled 
with marone. The form of the petal detracts from the merit of the flower by 
being somewhat pointed. 
A Subscriber. — The seeds of Gesneria Suttonii 'require to be sown in 
February. Drain well an ordinary seed-pan, and fill up two thirds of it with 
peat broken into small lumps, leaving the interstices open; on the top of 
this spread about half an inch of finely sifted peat and silver sand in equal 
quantities. Press the surface closely and evenly all over, and strew the seed 
on it, without covering; sprinkle a little water from the hairs of a brush over 
the whole, and place the pan in a stove or frame having an average temper¬ 
ature of 65°. It will require to be kept constantly moist by the means em¬ 
ployed at the first watering. 
T. N. —■ Cuttings of Verbenas, if well rooted, are more easily, maintained 
in health through the winter than layers, the latter seldom having time to 
become established before the dull weather occurs. 
