Page:The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory.djvu/163

Rh mixture of good turfy peat and loam with a little sharp sand. E. coccineum, the flowers of which are of a dazzling scarlet colour, is the most to be desired, but E. strobilum is worth a place in any collection.

.&mdash;When well grown the members of this genus are exceedingly attractive. They require a rich compost, and a mixture of two parts turfy loam and a part each of fibrous peat and well decayed manure suits them admirably. Towards the spring prune the shoots to within a short distance of the base, and when they afford an indication of starting into growth turn them out of the pots, remove the old soil and repot them. Soon after they have done flowering they will go to rest, and the water at this stage should be gradually lessened and finally withheld altogether, as the soil should be kept quite dry during the winter. The stock may be increased by taking off the young shoots when about three inches in length with a small heel, and inserting them round the sides of cutting pots filled with a light sandy compost. The cuttings strike more freely when the pots are plunged in a brisk bottom-heat. They require a moderate amount of pot-room and will receive much benefit when in full growth from liberal supplies of liquid manure.

.&mdash;The main essentials in the cultivation of these interesting plants are a light position, perfect drainage, and an open compost. The latter should be prepared by incorporating together equal parts turfy peat and loam, and liberal quantities of silver sand and nodules of charcoal. The species of a scandent habit will require a neat wire trellis for their support. They should be placed out of doors during the summer season, for the purpose of ensuring a thorough maturation of the young wood.

.&mdash;Generally grown for the graceful appearance of the foliage. They require a compost consisting of fibrous peat and loam and a moderate proportion of sand. An open position in the conservatory is necessary, and they may be placed out of doors in the summer. For the cool conservatory they are useful and interesting plants. G. alpestris with flowers red and yellow, and G. rosmarinifolia with red flowers