THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINE1. 
133 
Tiie Iloya Caruosa is particularly adapt¬ 
ed to the ceiling decoration of a conserva¬ 
tory, especially where the ceiling is not of 
glass; then the Ilova leaves, growing with all their 
glossy surfaces below, need only an occasional washing 
to be beautiful in themselves. 
The upper six feet of space in our little conservatory 
is given up to Moyas, and there, at their own will or 
with little guidance, they run across back and forth, on 
strings between hooks in the ceiliDg, or festooned at 
different heights below, every branch and every end 
filled with their exquisite heads of bloom in every stage 
of development. We began by training them high, but 
have let the vines hang lower year by year as the new 
shoots came, that the lovely flowers might be within 
reach. Now, as the long bare arms stretch out ready to 
be clothed upon at their after leisure, wo merely throw 
the new ends over some low festoon to keep them out 
of the way of our heads in passing. They are so beauti¬ 
ful it is pleasant to touch them; to examine the various 
umbels, and guess how many successions of bloom each 
has already afforded, and how many more are still to 
come. Some of the older umbels, higher up, have a 
flower stallc two inches in length, and are still putting 
forth fresh blossoms thrice in a season, while those from 
the lowes^and newest branches have their flower stalks 
just begun ; some of them are scarcely an eighth of an 
inch below their incli or half-inch of flower stem. 
It is impossible to count the flowers in their differently 
advanced stages. Those nearly or quite out are plainly 
to be seen among the green leaves. This large cluster, 
hanging low. within reach, measures four inches across, 
and has each of its five waxen creamy-pink petals 
thrown wide open, showing the yellow stars with a drop 
of honey hanging from their deep-red central points— 
thirty little half-inch bits of loveliness as exquisite as 
can be found in the floral kingdom. Still, if the unfolded 
flowers were not so lovely, we would think these little 
closely-shut, creamy hexagons with smooth, satiny faces, 
waiting to grow yet a little larger, pretty enough, and 
even the clumps of hanging red balls, the buds—promises 
of so much loveliness—are not without interest. No ! I 
cannot coimt the blossoms, nor could 
I if it was an easier thing to find’them 
all. Each little head is so perfect, and 
so pretty in its own way, I forget to 
go on, and become absorbed in the 
contemplation of their beauties. 
Iloya vines stray where they will, 
hang gracefully by their own weight, 
and the elegance and picturesqueness 
of their hanging arches of beautiful 
leaves, exquisite buds, and blossoms, 
on strong substantial stems, cannot be 
excelled, if equaled, by any 
other conservatory climber. 
The Hoya does not require 
much water. Water, as with 
any other plant, thoroughly 
when at all. It is astonishing 
how long it takes it to dry out 
during the winter months, 
when it is not rapidly sending 
out its long arms, or its flower- 
buds. I have frequently found 
the earth nroist to the touch a 
week after any water was given, 
and it will get quite dry before 
any more is needed. 
There is one peculiarity about 
its feeding. The surface of the 
soil is covered with little sur¬ 
face roots, that appear to cousunre the very earth itself, 
for every few weeks I find the earth low in each Hoya 
pot, and scatter a half-pint or more of old-woods earth 
over the bare roots. The pots stand on smooth iron 
brackets, no earth is ever wasted at the bottom of the 
pots. I cannot say positively that the earth is disinteg¬ 
rated, and consumed, but it looks quite like it, and the 
top-dressing is just what seems needed. I have some¬ 
times used Peruvian Guano, a tea-spoonful to a gallon 
watering-pot of warm water, as we use it for some other- 
plants, once a week, and sometimes, between times, 
have used aqua-ammonia irr the same proportion; but 
they gr-ow well enough without it, and it is easy to 
