GAL 
GEI 
spreading them tliinly on the surface of 
a pot full of light sandy soil; they quickly 
vegetate in almost any position, and if 
kept growing through the whiter, form 
handsome blooming plants early in the 
following summer. 
GALANTHUS (Linn.) Nat. Ord. 
Amaryllidaeei g. G. nivalis, the common 
snowdrop, for its poetical associations 
as the ever welcome harbinger of spring, 
is universally cultivated, and by potting 
and very gentle forcing may be made an 
interesting ornament to the greenhouse 
hi mid-winter. Snowdrops prefer a rich 
and rather tenacious soil in a shaded 
situation. Loudon remarks, “ It is ra¬ 
ther singular, and also to be regretted, 
that no variations or hybrids have been 
produced from this early and pretty little 
flower.” By way of episode, we may 
mention that there are but two species 
of the genus and one variety, but it is 
probable that a cross might be obtained 
between it and the allied genus Leuco- 
jum, or indeed other genera of the same 
order; the great difficulty being, how¬ 
ever, to have the different species in 
flower at the same time, the precocity 
of the snowdrop putting it out of ques¬ 
tion in a natural manner, it would be 
necessary to retard the latter till the 
blooming season of the genus be selected. 
GARDENIA (Ellis.) Nat. Order 
Cinchonaceve. A genus of splendid stove 
shrubs, which are at once remarkable for 
the size, number, and fragrance of their 
blossoms, and the noble character of 
the plants. They delight hi sandy peat 
soil, and should have a moist elevated 
atmosphere to grow in, with an appre¬ 
ciable reduction both of moisture and 
heat iu the winter or resting season. 
The prevailing colour of the flowers is 
white, though some recent additions 
have made an agreeable variation. 
GARDOQAJIA (Ruiz and Pavon.) 
Nat. Ord. Labiatve. Handsome green¬ 
house plants, deserving a place hi every 
collection; the neat, habit and rich scarlet 
flowers of G. Hookeri render it particu¬ 
larly worthy of attention. They delight 
hi fibrous peat and silver sand, in well- 
drained pots; the young plants may be 
encouraged to make a vigorous growth 
by giving them a rather higher tempera¬ 
ture than is usual iu the greenhouse, 
observing at the same time to frequently 
“ stop” the growths thus formed, or the 
plants will become straggling, and a pau¬ 
city of flowers ensue; at other times 
abundance of air should be admitted to 
them. 
GASTERIA (Haworth.) Nat. Ord. 
Liliacecs. Interesting succulents from 
the Cape of Good Hope; they are re¬ 
markable for producing their leaves in 
Two rows, for the most part opposite 
and quite regular. Loam, leaf-mould, 
and sand well-drained, will grow them 
well, with the ordinary treatment of 
Aloes and similar plants. The prevail¬ 
ing colours of the flowers are scarlet, 
orange, and red. 
GASTROLOBIUM (R. Brown.) Nat. 
Ord. Leguminosce . Handsome New Hol¬ 
land shrubs with bright yellow and orange- 
coloured blossoms, requiring to be grown 
in sandy peat, and to have an airy situa¬ 
tion in the greenhouse through the win¬ 
ter, and a shaded one out of doors in 
summer. 
GAZxiNIA (G(ertner.) Nat. Order 
Composite. Showy dwarf-growing plants, 
well suited for ornamenting the green¬ 
house or sitting-room at almost all sea¬ 
sons, or for bedding out in the flower- 
garden in summer. They grow rapidly 
in sandy peat, and are easily increased 
by cuttings. The bright orange of the 
petals of G. rigens, contrasted as it is 
with the almost black centre and the 
large size of the flowers, mark it as a 
particularly striking plant, nor is the 
paler coloured G. pavonia without its at¬ 
tractions; from the great number of 
flowers produced and its dense habit, it 
is one of the best bedding plants we 
have. All the species must be carefully 
protected from frost and excessive mois¬ 
ture in winter. 
GEISSOMERIA (Lindley.) N. Or. 
Acanthacece. A very desirable winter 
flowering stove plant; as old plants are 
subject to become naked about the lower 
part of the stems, it is preferable to raise 
a number of young ones every season, 
and by placing three or foul’ together in 
