Angnst  12,  11)97. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
141 
PROGRESS  IN  STREPTOCARPUS. 
The  advance  in  many  plants  that  have  come  under  skilful 
manipulations  of  the  hybridist  is  nothing  short  of  remarkable. 
Notes  might  be  written  on  the  progress  of  Begonias,  Carnations, 
Chrysanthemums,  Pelargoniums,  and  many  others,  including  the 
Streptocarpus,  to  which  this  article  will  be  confined.  The  improve¬ 
ment  that  has  been  made  with  this  plant  is  no  less  pronounced 
than  in  the  case  of  either  of  those  that  have  been  named,  and  it 
has  been  effected  during  a  comparatively  recent  period — indeed, 
it  may  be  said  to  have  taken  place  within  the  past  ten  years. 
An  account  of  the  history  of  the  Streptocarpus  is  given  in 
the  “  Flower  Growers’  Guide  ”  (published  by  Messrs.  J.  S.  Virtue 
and  Co.,  Ltd.),  which  we  extract,  together  with  some  cultural 
directions  which  are  there  given. 
“  Let  us  trace  briefly  the  genealogy  of  such  flowers  as  those 
figured.  About  the  year  1887  Mr.  William  Watson,  the  able 
assistant  curator  of  the  Koyal  Gardens,  Kew,  exhibited  two  new 
varieties  of  Streptocarpus  before  the  Floral  Committee  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society.  They  were  named  S.  kewensis 
(mauve  purple  with  brownish  stripes),  and  S.  Watsoni  (rosy 
purple),  and  justly  awarded  certificates.  How  were  they  obtained  ? 
S.  Rexi  (blue),  introduced  from  South  Africa  in  1824,  was 
crossed  with  S.  Dunni  (rose),  Transvaal,  1884.  This  cross  brought 
S.  kewensis,  which  in  turn,  crossed  with  the  Cape  species  S.  parvi- 
flora  (purple,  white,  and  yellow),  brought  S.  Watsoni. 
“  It  may  be  presumed  that  even  Mr.  Watson  could  scarcely 
have  foreseen  that  his  two  little  floral  children  would  so  soon  bring 
in  their  train  the  marvellously  diversified  and  beautiful  varieties 
now  so  easily  obtainable  from  seed.  The  progress  was  brought 
about  in  this  way  : — 
“  About  two  years  after  8.  kewensis  and  S.  Watsoni  were 
raised  they  attracted  the  attention  of  Mr.  John  Heal,  one  of  the 
expert  hybridisers  in  the  establishment  of  Messrs.  J.  Yeitch  and 
Sons,  Chelsea,  who  saw  them  planted  out  round  the  border  of  the 
large  succulent  house  at  Kew  and  flowering  very  freely.  Tbe  Kew 
authorities  gave  Mr.  Heal  a  few  plants  to  see  if  he  could  make  any 
improvement  with  them,  as  Kew  is  not  a  hybridising  establishment 
on  a  large  scale. 
“  No  doubt  the  Kew  people  did  well,  as  time  has  proved,  to  let 
others  do  their  best.  The  result  has  exceeded  the  expectations  of 
everyone  who  takes  an  interest  in  these  beautiful  flowers.  The 
collection  exhibited  by  the  Messrs.  Yeitch  in  the  Diamond  Jubilee 
year  at  the  show  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  in  the  Temple 
Gardens,  London,  incited  expressions  of  admiration  and  surprise. 
Among  the  exhibits  were  splendidly  floriferous  plants  of  what  must 
in  justice  be  called  Yeitch’s  Hybrid  Strain,  arranged  in  distinct 
colours  to  show  how  true  each  colour  will  be  reproduced  in  seedling 
plants  as  the  result  of  careful  fertilisation.  There  were  pure 
whites  without  any  trace  of  colouring,  then  white  with  dark 
blotches,  magentas  with  rich  and  distinct  shades,  violet,  purple, 
rose,  pink,  and  various  tints  practically  indescribable.  Three  varie¬ 
ties  are  shown  in  the  woodcut  (fig.  20). 
“  Exhibited  at  the  same  time  were  three  other  distinct  strains 
which  demand  attention.  The  first,  known  as  S.  gratus,  is  very 
distinct.  The  flower  stems,  from  6  to  9  inches  high,  are  very  strong 
and  freely  produced,  some  of  them  bearing  from  twenty  to  seventy 
flowers  and  buds,  which  means  a  continuation  of  bloom  for  several 
months.  The  flowers  are  about  an  inch  across,  and  the  colours 
bright  and  showy,  including  terra-cotta  and  rose  shades.  This 
strain,  with  its  several  varieties,  was  obtained  by  crossing  the 
African  species  8.  Dunni  with  Yeitch’s  hybrids. 
The  second  strain  which  merits  special  notice  was  named 
Mrs.  Heal,  in  commemoration  of  the  late  lamented  wife  of  the 
raiser.  Mrs.  Heal  is  in  truth  a  beautiful  and  distinct  Strepto¬ 
carpus,  and  no  doubt  the  forerunner  of  a  new  section.  The  flower 
stalks  range  from  9  to  15  inches  high,  and  terminate  with  six  to 
twelve  flowers  of  a  rich  violet  blue  shaded  with  purple,  the  throat 
having  a  yellow  band  with  maroon  spots  on  the  lower  petal,  the 
flowers  being  1|-  inch  in  diameter.  It  is  the  result  of  a  cross 
between  S.  Wendlandi  and  one  of  Yeitch’s  hybrids.  The  plant  is 
of  good  habit  and  floriferous  with  several  leaves,  unlike  S.  Wend¬ 
landi,  which  is  remarkable  for  producing  only  one  huge  leaf  and 
very  tall  spikes  of  blue  flowers. 
“The  third  strain,  S.  pulchellus,  is  perfectly  distinct  from  the 
others.  It  is  light  and  graceful  both  in  growth  and  flower.  The 
plant  is^compact,  and  the  long  tubular  flowers  are  borne  on  erect 
stems  from  12  to  15  inches  high,  with  twelve  to  twenty  on  each 
stem,  in  the  most  delicate  lavender  tints.  Where  light  and 
graceful  flowers  are  in  demand,  this  strain  will  supply  them.  It 
was  obtained  by  inter-crossing  S.  Fannini  and  Yeitch’s  hybrids. 
“  A  new  strain  was  exhibited  at  a  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society  in  May,  1897,  which  received  an  award  of  merit. 
It  i>  a  charming  variety,  called  S.  achimeneflora  from  the  re¬ 
semblance  of  the  blooms  to  some  of  the  small-flowered  Achimenes. 
The  colour  is  soft  blue,  with  clear  yellowish  eye,  and  the  habit 
graceful.  It  was  obtained  by  crossing  S.  polyantha  with  Yeitch’s 
hybrids. 
“  Other  firms  are  improving  the  Streptocarpus,  and  no  one  can 
foresee  what  the  results  will  be,  but  already  the  plants  under  notice 
rank  among  the  most  useful  for  the  decoration  of  the  conservatory, 
greenhouse,  or  drawing-room  during  the  summer  months,  especially 
when  grown  like  those  exhibited  at  the  Roval  Horticultural  Society 
in  1896  by  Mr.  Beckett,  of  Aldenham  House  Gardens,  Elstree, 
each  bearing  from  twenty  to  thirty  stems,  with  four  to  six  flowers 
on  a  stem. 
“  Not  only  will  varieties  of  the  Streptocarpus  be  grown  in 
Fig.  20.— Hybrid  Streptocarpus, 
large  gardens,  but  they  are  equally  suitable  for  the  amateur  with 
his  small  greenhouse,  in  which  the  plants  may  be  had  in  flower 
from  April  to  October,  as  fresh  stems  are  produced  if  the  old  ones 
are  removed  when  the  flowers  fade.  Moreover,  the  plants  will 
be  quite  safe  in  the  winter  in  a  temperature  ranging  between 
38°  and  45°  ;  but  they  do  not  require  water  at  that  season  till 
the  soil  gets  dry  enough  to  crumble  freely  when  rubbed 
with  the  finger  ;  then  sufficient  ought  to  be  given  to  pass  to  the 
drainage,  not  a  drop  being  poured  on  the  foliage  or  in  the  centre  of 
the  plants,  but  only  on  the  soil.  Damp  is  the  enemy  of  the  plants 
in  winter,  and  if  any  decaying  parts  appear  they  must  be  promptly 
removed.  Streptocarpus  will  grow  and  flower  well  in  cottage 
windows  where  they  receive  plenty  of  light,  as  they  do  not  object 
to  a  dry  atmosphere.  They  are  best  kept  cool  in  summer,  must 
never  be  overpotted,  nor  must  the  soil  be  allowed  to  become  dry 
when  the  plants  are  flowering,  while  they  enjoy  shade  from  the  sun 
