THE 
FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
November, 1843 . 
ON SPARAXIS. 
WITH AN ENGRAVING OF SPARAXIS PULCIIELLA, S. PURPUREA, S. PICTA. 
The seedling Sparaxis, engravings of which we have this 
month presented to our readers, were raised by Mr. Wm. E. 
Rendle, of the Union Road Nursery, Plymouth. They are 
distinct and desirable varieties, forming a rich addition to this 
lovely tribe of Cape plants, which are not cultivated in this 
country to the extent they deserve, the fact being accounted 
for by their culture not being properly understood, nor their 
beauties fully appreciated. Mr. Rendle being an extensive and 
successful grower of these plants, we have solicited his mode of 
culture, which he has kindly given us. 
“ For many years past I have been an ardent admirer of 
Ixia and Sparaxis, two very interesting and beautiful genera, 
and, having cultivated each successfully, find that a similar 
treatment is applicable to both. 
“ In the south of England, and in favoured situations, they 
will succeed very well in the open border, but, as they are liable 
in severe seasons to suffer from frost and wet, care must be 
taken to obviate such disastrous consequences by precautionary 
coverings with litter, and by ample drainage. My own esta¬ 
blishment not containing a soil naturally well adapted for their 
growth and developement, I am obliged to have recourse to an 
artificial one ; prepared with one third good turfy loam, one third 
river sand, and one third peat, leaf mould, and rotten manure, all 
well mixed and incorporated, but not broken fine, laying this 18 
VOL. IV. NO. XII. 21 
