1884 .] 
109 
THE AMERICAN GARDEN. 
GE 8 NERA 0 E 0 US PLANTS. 
ACHIMKNKS. 
A beiiutiful geuu8 of phuvts, (|,o vuvious 
8poc.es of wliiel. ure ..ativos of C-o,.t.-n,l 
Atnerica and .lamaioii. Many vai'ioties are 
now in cidtivatioii, all beautiful, o.xhibiting 
a groat variety of colors-e.-in,sou, scarlet, 
white, pink, and orange, and the dill’erent 
shades arising from a combination of those. 
The flowers are produced from the a.xils of 
the loaves in groat abnnduuce. 
They are propagated by cultiugs and by 
the scaly underground tubers with whicii 
they are furnished. Ifarly in spring, place 
the small tubers in pans or pots, provided mth 
good drainage and light, rich soil, composed 
mostly of leaf-mold and sand. Cover slightly 
ivith similar material, and place where they 
can get a good bottom-heat. When well 
started, and the shoots have grown about j 
tivo inches high, transplant about three 
inches apart in other pans, pots, or bas¬ 
kets. A basket made of ivire in a globul.ar 
fonn, lined with moss and filled ndth soil, 
recommended above, mixed with a liberal 
addition of thoroughly rotten manure, in 
which the young plants are placed all 
aroimd, using the different colors, is one 
of the prettiest objects one. could imagine. 
It will soon become a complete mass of 
flowers, lasting during the summer and 
autumn mouths. 
Better success is geuerall.v obtained b.v 
transplanting the plants than by shifting 
into larger pots or pans. Pans about five 
inches in' depth ai'o more suitable for the 
growth of this class of plants than pots. If 
the latter ai’e used, fill them about half full 
with potsherds for drainage. Unless the 
water is allowed to pass fi'oelj' from the roots, 
the leaves are liable to rust, which afleotion 
aiises often, also, from syringing overhead 
too often. When the plants are making 
their most luxuriant gi'owth, keep well sui.- 
plied with water at the roots, and with a 
warm, moist atmosjihere, but do not S 3 n'iuge 
overhead. They require to be shaded fi’om 
the strong rays of the sim, and it is prin¬ 
cipally fi-om negleeting to give snflieient 
shade that many pei-sons fail to grow Achi- 
menes successfully. 
When the plants commence floweiing, le- 
move to a cooler place, but do not allow 
strong draughts to rush against the plants, 
as they ar-e very impatient in such a posi¬ 
tion. After the season of blooming, gradu¬ 
ally withhold "water until the tops are 
completely decayed, then place t e pots 
containing the tubers in some place where 
they shall be free from all water, and have 
a moderate temperature until ready for 
starting m the spring. The tubers keep 
better in tlio pots in which they were giew- 
mg during summer tlian if taken out and 
placed in sand or any other material. 
I'horo are a groat many varieties of Achi- 
menos, the result of crossings of A. coccinca, 
producing small scarlet flowers, with A. 
loiif/ijhra having largo flowers. The strong¬ 
est and most easily cultivated kinds are tliose 
nea.'est (.he lonijiJIoni type. 
OUSNEUA. 
In tlio beauty of tlieir (lowers, not less 
(;han in tlioir singularly marked, soft, velvety 
Inhage, ai-o the diireront varieties of Gesnera 
valuable. If (reated properly, they may he 
liad in (lower during the winter months ; in 
fact, with a fair supply of plants, their 
beaut.v may be enjoyed during the e.itire 
season hy starting thoin into growth at 
dift'erent periods. Soil similar to what is 
.•eeommended for Achimenes is suitable 
for them. Plenty of water at the roots 
during the time of their vigorous growtli is 
indispensable. 'I’hey musi, not, howevei', be 
.syringed, as this destroys tlie foliage. The 
plants, in order to produce good results after¬ 
wards, must be well eared for after flower- 
iug, as on the proper maturing of the tubers 
depends their future success. They are 
propagated by diWsion of the tubers and 
by enttiugs. 
IlLOXINIA. 
A hon.se filled with the different kinds of 
Gloxinia is a sight to be remembered. Their 
finely marked, campannlate-shaped flowers 
ari.sing above the strong, sturdy foliage, 
GLOXINIA. 
make them beautiful objects for any posi¬ 
tion. By potting at different periods, a suc¬ 
cession of flowers can be had the entire 
season. 
Good varieties may be secured from seed, 
if collected from a good strain. Sow tlie 
seeds on finely sifted soil, be careful in 
watering, and, instead of covering with soil, 
cover the pan or pot with a piece of glass 
until vegetation begins, and at all times, 
until the plantlets set good roots, do not 
allow them to get dry, or allow the smi to 
shine on them, as they are very easily 
destroyed with such treatment. 
As soon as the seedlings are large enough 
to be handled, transplant into pans about 
an incli apart each way, keep them in a 
moist, hot atmosphere, where they shall 
grow rapidly. Wlien the plants liave grown 
sufllciently large to touch each other, pot 
into small pots, using as soil good fibrous 
loam, leaf-mold, and thoroughly rotted ina- 
nui’o, with plenty of sand to give porosity to 
the compost, as they require it shifted into 
larger pots, until tliey show signs of flowei-- 
ing. When in flower, keep in a ratlier cool 
house, as in a cool temperature flowers keep 
inucli longer in perfection, especially if they 
arc kept perfectly dry. Moisture on leaves 
and flowers is apt to destroy them. Keep 
perfectly dry when at rest, and in a cool 
house. 
Propagation can also be effected by the 
leaves. Either insert the end of the petiole 
in sand where a bi’isk heat can be main¬ 
tained, or lay the leaf flat on the sand and 
cut the mid-rib through just below the 
junction of the veins with the rib ; by this 
means a plant can be produced at evei-y cut. 
Pot when large enough, and treat as du-ected 
for seedlings. There are varieties with 
drooping flowers, mth erect, and some with 
semi-double. Any and all kinds may be 
produced ft-oni a package of good seed. 
M. Mii.'rox. 
EOHEVEEU METALLICA. 
The easiest way of ijropagating these 
beaiitiful plants is from seed, which should 
be sown either in warmth during early 
spring, or after that time in a cool house or 
frame. The seeds are extremely fine, like 
dust, indeed, and the only way to get them 
up is to fill the pot with fine soil to within a 
quarter of an inch of the rim, make the sur¬ 
face firm, but not liard, and very level, 
watering sufficiently to moisten it through ; 
then coat it with dry silver sand; sow the 
seeds thereon and press them in gently, 
whicli will cover them sufficiently; place the 
pot where it cannot dry out quickly, and be 
careful never to allow the surface to become 
in the least di-y. When the young plants 
appear, move them to the full light, and 
when large enough to.handle piick them out 
in six-inch pots or pans. 
Grow during the summer in a light, airy 
greenliouse, potting singly into small pots 
when large enough, using sandy loam and 
giving good drainage. In the com-se of a 
couple of years they will come into six-inch 
pots, and in these they may remain for two 
or tiiree years, as they bloom best when root- 
bound. Well gi’own, they flower freely in 
winter ajid early spring, and are very oina- 
mental. A eool greenhouse in winter suits 
them best.— Gardenitifl TllmtraM. 
