September  20,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
275 
Notes  on  Blandfordias. 
Blandfordias  are  charming  plants  for  greenhouses,  the  nsnal 
temperature  of  which  suits  them  admirably.  The  flower  scape  rises 
above  the  foliage  from  1  to  3  feet,  and  then  produces  a  terminal  cluster 
of  drooping  flowers.  The  time  of  flowering  varies  according  to  the 
temperature  given 
the  plants  in  their 
various  stages  of 
development,  but 
as  a  rule  the 
flowers  are  pro¬ 
duced  about  the 
end  of  June  or 
during  the  month 
of  July.  They  are 
propagated  by  divi¬ 
sion  and  from  seed. 
To  obtain  a  stock 
by  the  former 
method  would  en¬ 
tail  a  considerable 
length  of  time,  as 
suckers  are  pro¬ 
duced  very  spar¬ 
ingly.  When  they 
are  produced,  1  ow- 
ever,  they  should 
be  taken  off  after 
flowering,  placed 
singly  in  small 
pots,  and  be  given 
an  intermediate 
temperature  until 
established,  and 
then  wintered  in 
the  greenhouse. 
The  stock  can 
be  obtained  more 
readily  by  seed, 
which  is  produced 
freely  if  a  little 
care  is  taken 
during  the  time 
the  plants  are  in 
flower  by  keeping 
them  where  the 
atmosphere  is 
moderately  dry  ; 
otherwise  artifloial 
fertilisation  is  ne¬ 
cessary.  It  is, 
however,  wise  to 
give  this  aid  under 
any  conditions. 
When  the  seed  is 
ripe  it  should  be 
sown  at  once  in  a 
small  pan  or  pot 
well  drained, 
covering  the  drain¬ 
age  with  moss  or 
other  suitable  ma. 
terial,  and  when  the  seeds  are  sown  they  should  be  lightly  covered 
with  soil,  wa'ered,  and  placed  in  heat.  The  pan  should  be  covered 
with  a  square  of  glass  ai.d  well  shaded  until  the  seedlings  appear. 
When  large  enough  they  should  be  placed  singly  in  2  or  3-inch  pots, 
and  be  grown  in  an  intermediate  temperature.  Anally  transferring 
them  to  5-ii  ch  pots,  and  subjectiug  them  to  the  same  treatment  as 
established  plants. 
Blandfordias  look  well  when  well  grown  and  fl  iwered  in  5-inoh  pots, 
which  are  large  enough  unless  the  plants  are  allowed  to  grow  with  more 
than  one  crown.  When  the  object  is  to  grow  a  good-sized  plant  the 
suckers  should  be  allowed  to  remain  instead  of  being  removed  to  increase 
BlANDFORDIA  PRINCEPS 
the  stock.  After  the  plants  have  flowered  they  should  be  repotted  and 
divided  if  necessary,  disturbing  the  roots  as  little  as  possible.  If  the- 
roots  have  to  be  much  disturbed  in  carrying  out  the  operation  it  is 
wise  to  keep  them  close  for  a  short  time.  I  have  potted  these  plants  at 
different  times,  but  find  the  operation  best  performed  at  this  season  of 
the  year.  A  little  care  should  be  devoted  to  the  supply  of  water  after 
they  are  first  potted,  and  as  autumn  approaches  and  the  growth  is 
completed  less  water  will  be  needed.  They  should  not  be  stored  away 
under  the  stages 
or  placed  upon 
shelves  to  be  neg¬ 
lected  during  win¬ 
ter.  They  will  do 
in  any  place  under 
glass  during  winter 
where  the  tem¬ 
perature  does  not 
fall  below  35“  to 
40°.  Little  water 
will  be  necessary, 
but  it  must  not  be 
entirely  withheld. 
In  spring  they  can 
be  assisted  with  a 
gentle  heat  if  con¬ 
venient.  But  evert 
this  is  not  abso¬ 
lutely  necessary. 
Our  plants  are 
only  subject  to 
a  greenhouse  tem¬ 
perature  all  the 
year,  and  flower 
profusely  about 
July.  When  the 
pots  are  full  of 
roots  and  the 
plants  are  growing,, 
stimulants  may  be 
given  with  advan¬ 
tage,  as  well  as 
liberal  applications 
of  water.  The  soil 
most  suitable  is 
good  fibrous  loam 
and  peat  in  equal 
proportions,  with 
a  few  pieces  of 
broken  charcoal 
and  plenty  of 
coarse  sand,  I  am 
confident  if  ama¬ 
teurs  will  give 
these  plants  a  trial 
they  will  not  be 
disappointed  with 
the  results. 
B.  nobilis  has 
rich  orange  colour¬ 
ed  flowers  shading 
to  yellow  at  the 
edge.  B.  aurea  has 
golden  yellow 
flowers  ;  and  B. 
Cunningham  i, 
which  is  a  very  beautiful  variety,  has  flowers  of  rich  coppery  red, 
while  the  upper  portion  is  yellowish  green.  Plants  may  be  had  from  a 
large  nurseryman  at  no  gieat  cost.  B.  princeps  (fig.  75)  is  a  handsome 
species,  having  crimson  tubular  flowers  with  a  yellow  limb.— B.  P. 
Nature’s  Winter  Forecast. — The  Virginian  Creeper,  the  leaves 
of  which  usually  change  into  a  rich  russet  hue  in  the  first  week  of 
September,  is  this  year  as  green  as  at  midsummer.  This,  according 
to  a  last  century  belief,  portends  a  late  and  mild  winter. 
