14 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
laid into a 60-sized pot, filled with well rotted leaf-mould, and 
either pegged down, or a stone laid on them ; the growing end 
should then be fastened upright to a stick, or they protrude roots 
from every joint; these readily strike into the pots, and require 
no further trouble, and also form the best plants for the following 
summer. Being so thoroughly established before the winter, 
there is much less danger of losing them. 
T. mutabilis is another very rapid growing species, agreeing in 
habit with Learii. In every respect it may be propagated in 
exactly the same manner. I am not aware if it will succeed out 
of doors, though certainly well worth cultivation within. 
T. rubro cerulea is now giving way, in some collections, to its 
more showy conqueror, Learii; yet it will hold a place, and that 
a conspicuous one, as from its more robust habit it is better 
suited for the open air than is Learii. This species succeeds best 
when treated as an annual ; the only point of difficulty is to 
observe the proper time for sowing it. If required for the open 
air, it is an object to get the plants as forward as possible, and it 
is in this the difficulty lies ; for if the seed is sown too soon, the 
plants, when about a foot high, form flower-buds on the extremity 
of the terminal shoot, and immediately cease growing; all hope 
of such a plant may be given up. I have tried every thing to 
induce "them to produce a new shoot, but without effect. The 
best time for sowing for the earliest plants is certainly not before 
the middle of March, between which time and the end of May, 
seed should be sown according to the time it may be desired to 
have the plants in flower. The seed should be sown in leaf- 
mould, and half plunged in a gentle hot-bed ; they may be 
potted as soon as the seed-leaves are thoroughly expanded, and 
repotted as often as required, till they are large enough for the 
final planting. If the plants are required for early flowering, 
they should be brought forward in heat while young, and after¬ 
wards hardened off by degrees. They delight in a very rich 
soil; a mixture of turfy loam and leaf mould, or rotten dung 
from an old hot-bed, suits them best. Cuttings strike freely in 
bottom heat all the summer months. 
This genus appears to me particularly deserving the attention 
of the experimental Florist, as no hybrids have yet been pro¬ 
duced, (that I am aware of,) and many advantageous crosses 
might be made in it, with a view to produce hardier varieties, or 
