Part 17

_Magnífera_, Mango tree. There are two species. _M. índica_ is in our collections, and bears a fruit which is so highly esteemed in the East Indies, as to be considered preferable to any other except very fine pine apples. The leaves are lanceolate, and from six to eight inches long, and two or more broad. The flowers are produced in loose bunches at the end of the branches, but of no beauty, and have to be artificially impregnated, or it will scarcely produce fruit. The shell is kidney-shaped, and of a leathery, crustaceous substance. They contain one seed, and in their indigenous state are more juicy than an apple. Drain the pots well, as the roots are apt to get sodden from moisture. The other species goes under the name of _oppositifòlia_, but we question if it is not only a variety, for it has every character of the one just described.

_Melàstoma_, was once an extensive genus, on which the natural order _Melastomaceæ_ is founded; but is now much divided into other genera contained in the natural tribe _Micomeæ_. There are about thirteen species remaining in the genus. They now display great unity of character, and many of them may be considered very ornamental. The finest are _M. malabáthrica_, rose-coloured; _M. sanguínea_, lilac; _M. decémfida_, purple; _M. pulverulénta_, red; and _M. áspera_, rose. There is a plant in several of our collections known as _M. purpùrea_ and _M. tetragòna_, which is _Ossæa purpuráscens_; leaves ovate, lanceolate, accuminate, five-nerved, pilose; the footstalk and nerves underside of the leaf covered with brown hairs; stem four-sided; flowers purple. All the species are easy of culture. _M. nepalénsis_ is a Green-house plant.

_Malpíghia_, (Barbadoes-cherry,) about eighteen species, all beautiful evergreen trees or shrubs. They are easily distinguished by having bristles on the under side of the leaves. These bristles are fixed by the centre, so that either end of it will sting. We are not aware of any other plant being defended in the manner. _M. ùrens_ has oblong ovate leaves with decumbent stiff bristles; flowers pink. _M. aquifòlia_ has lanceolate, stiff, spiny leaves, and we think the most beautiful foliage of the genus. _M. fucàta_ has elliptical shining leaves, with lilac flowers. _M. glábra_, leaves ovate, entire, smooth; flowers purple. They all have five rounded clawed petals. The last species is cultivated in the West Indies for its fruit. The pots must be well drained.

_Márica_, a genus of Hot-house plants, closely allied to Iris, between which there is no distinction in the leaves. The flowers of _M. cærùlea_ are beautifully spotted with light and dark blue, the scape many flowered. M. _Sabìni_ has flowers similar, but not so dark in colour. M. _Northiàna_ has splendid white and brown spotted flowers, spathe two flowered. These plants when growing require a liberal supply of water, and to be greatly encouraged by frequent potting to flower well.

_Mùsa_ (Plantain-tree), contains eight species, and is greatly esteemed in the East and West Indies for the luscious sweet flavour of its fruit, which can be converted into every delicacy in the domestic cookery of the country. M. _paradisìæa_ is the true plantain tree, has a soft herbaceous stalk, 15 or 20 feet high, with leaves from 5 to 7 feet long, and about 2 feet wide. M. _sapiéntum_ is the true Banana-tree; habit and character same as the former, except it has a spotted stem, and the male flowers are deciduous. The pulp of the fruit is softer, and the taste more luscious. M. _rosàcea_, M. _coccínea_, and M. _chinènsis_, are most esteemed in artificial cultivation for their flowers, and being smaller in growth. They all require a very liberal supply of water when growing. They do best to be planted in the soil, where there can be a small corner of the Hot-house set apart for the purpose. They will be ornamental, but if kept in pots they will never attain any degree of perfection.

_Nepénthes_ (Pitcher plant). There are two species of this plant. _N. distillatòria_ is an esteemed and valuable plant in European collections. The leaves are lanceolate and sessile; from their extremity there is a spiral, attached to which are lublar inflated appendages that are generally filled with water, which appears to be confined within them by a lid, with which the appendages are surmounted; hence the name of pitcher plant. We have never observed these lids close again when once open. Writers have called it a herbaceous plant, but it is properly a shrub, never dying to the ground, having a continuation of extension. The pot in which it grows should be covered with moss, and the roots liberally supplied with water every day. It delights to be in a marshy state. The flowers are small and in long spikes.

_Pancràtium_ is a genus of Hot-house bulbs, and now only contains five species. They are all free-flowering. Several of them are handsome and fragrant. P. _Marítimum_ and P. _verecúndum_ are the finest; the flowers are white, in large umbels; petals long, recurved, and undulate. P. _littoràlis_, P. _speciòsum_, and P. _caribæum_, are now given to the genus _Hymenocállis_, and are fine flowering species. Care must be taken not to give them much water while dormant. The soil ought at that time to be in a half dry state. They are in flower from May to August.

_Polyspòra axillàris_, once called _Caméllia axillàris_, though in appearance it has no characteristic of a _Caméllia_, and has been frequently killed in the Green-house by being too cold for its nature; leaves oblong, obovate, towards the extremity serrulate. The leaves on the young wood are entire. Flowers white; petals a little notched. It is worthy of a situation in every collection.

_Passiflòra_, "Passion-Flower, so named on account of its being supposed to represent in the appendages of its flower the Passion of Jesus Christ." There are about fifty species, all climbing plants, that belong to the Hot-house. Many are of no ordinary beauty; a few species are odoriferous; others bear edible fruits, though not rich in flavour. P. _alàta_ is in our collections, and greatly admired; the flowers are red, blue, and white, beautifully contrasted, and flower profusely in pots. P. _racemòsa_, has red flowers, and one of the most profuse in flowering. P. _cærùleo-racemòsa_, purple and red, and by many thought to be the finest of the genus. P. _quadrangulàris_ has beautiful red and white flowers. The plant is in several collections, but has seldom flowered; it requires to be planted in the ground to make it flower freely, and it will also produce fruit. P. _filamentòsa_ is white and blue, and a good flowerer. P. _picturàta_ is a scarce and beautiful variously coloured species. There are many other fine species, but these are the most esteemed sorts; and when well established will flower profusely from May to August. They are desirable in every collection, and will take only a small space to hold them, by training the vines up the rafters of the Hot-house.

_Pandànus_, Screw Pine. There are above twenty species in this genus, several of them very interesting, but none so greatly admired as P. _odoratíssimus_. The leaves in established plants are from four to six feet long, on the back and edges spiny; are spreading, imbricated, and embracing the stem, and placed in three spiral rows upon it. The top soon becomes heavy when the plant throws out prongs one, two, or three feet up the stem in an oblique descending direction, which take root in the ground, and thus become perfectly supported. It is cultivated in Japan for its delightful fragrance, and it is said, "of all the perfumes, it is by far the richest and most powerful." P. _ùtilis_, red spined. We question this species, and are inclined to believe that it is the former, only when the plants are newly raised from seed, the spines and leaves are red, changing to green as they become advanced in age. The plants are easy of culture, and will grow almost in any soil.

_Pterospérmum_, five species of plants that have very curiously constructed flowers, of a white colour, and fragrant; the foliage is of a brown rusty nature, and before expansion silvery-like. P. _suberifòlium_ is in several of our collections, and esteemed. P. _semisagittàtum_ has fringed bractæa; leaves oblong, accuminate, entire, sagittate on one side.

_Plumèrias_, above twenty species. Plants of a slow growth, robust nature, and are deciduous. The foliage is greatly admired. The plants are shy to flower, but are brilliant in colour. P. _acuminàta_, has lanceolate, acute leaves; flowers corymbose and terminale. P. _trícolor_ has oblong, acute, veiny leaves; corolla red, yellow, and white. This and P. _rùbra_ are the finest of the genus. They ought not to get any water while not in a growing state.

_Ph[oe]nix_, Date-palm, about eight species, principally Asiatic plants. The foliage is not so attractive as many others of the palm family, but it is rendered interesting by producing a well known fruit called Date. P. _dactylífera_ will do very well in a common Green-house. In Arabia, Upper Egypt, and Barbary, it is much used in domestic economy. P. _paludósa_ has the most beautiful foliage, and the best habit. The flowers are di[oe]cious.

_Roscòea._ A genus of about five species, all pretty, but not much known. _R. purpùrea_ has been introduced into our collections, and is the finest of the genus. The flowers are light purple, large, and in terminale sheaths at the top of the stem. _R. spicàta_ and _R. capitàta_ are both fine species, with blue flowers. They are all herbaceous, with strong half tuberous roots, requiring little water while dormant, and a liberal supply when growing.

_Ruéllia._ There are a few species, very pretty free flowering plants, of easy culture. _R. formòsa_, flowers long, of a fine scarlet colour; plant half shrubby. _R. fulgída_ has bright scarlet flowers on axillary long stalked fascicles. _R. persicifòlia_, with unequal leaves, and light blue flowers, is now called _R. anisophylla_; and the true one has oblong, wavy, leaves, deeply nerved, petioles long; flowers yellow, sessile, in axillary and terminale heads, stem erect. One healthy plant will be frequently in flower from January to June. This species ought to be in every collection, both for its beauty of flower and foliage.

_Rhápis_, a genus of palms, that will grow very freely with heat, and room at the roots. _R. flabellifórmis_ is an erect growing palm, with a spreading head. It is a native of China.

_Thunbérgia_, a genus containing six climbing plants, of a half shrubby nature. Some of them have a fragrant odour. _T. coccínea_, red; _T. grandiflòra_, blue; _T. fràgrans_, sweet-scented; _T. alàta_, has pretty buff and purple flowers, which are in great profusion. We are not certain but the latter will make a beautiful annual in the Flower-garden. It seeds freely, and from the time of sowing until flowering is about two months, if the heat is brisk. If sown in May, they will bloom from July until killed by frost.

_Sàgus_, Sago-palm. We are of opinion that the true palm from which the sago of the shops is produced, has not been introduced into our collections. It is very rare in the most extensive collections of Europe, but is not so fine as the one we have under the Sago, which is placed in the natural order of _Cycadeæ_; and Sagus is in that of _Palmæ_. The finest of this genus is _S. vinífera_ and _S. Rúmphii_. They grow to a great height; even in artificial cultivation they may be seen from ten to twenty-five feet. We have not introduced them here for their beauty, but to prevent error.

_Solándra_, a genus of four species, remarkable for the extraordinary size of their flowers, and are considered beautiful. _S. grandiflòra_ and _S. viridiflòra_ are the two best. The plants will bloom best if they are restricted in pot room, and are only introduced as being worthy of cultivation. If they are repotted once in two or three years, it is sufficient, except where the plants are small and want encouragement.

_Strophánthus_, a small genus of beautiful tropical shrubs. The segments of the corolla are curiously twisted before expansion. _S. divérgens_ is a neat spreading shrub, with yellow flowers, a little tinged with red; the petals are about four inches long, undulate, lanceolate. _S. dichótomus_ is rose coloured, corolla funnel shaped. The plants will flower freely in a strong moist heat. Drain the pots well.

_Swietènia_ (mahogany-tree), the wood of which is celebrated in cabinet-work. _S. Mahógoni_, common. This tree varies much in general appearance according to soil and situation. The leaves are pinnated in four pairs; leaflets ovate, lanceolate; flowers small, white, in axillary panicles. _S. fubrifùga_, leaves pinnated, in four pairs; leaflets elliptical; flowers white, in terminale panicles. The wood of the last is the most durable of any in the East Indies. They are fine plants, and require heat and pot room to produce flowers.

_Tecòma_, a genus of plants closely allied to _Bignònia_, and are free-flowering; several of them much esteemed. _T. móllis_, _T. digitàta_, and _T. splèndida_, are the most beautiful of those that belong to the Hot-house. They have large orange coloured, tubular, inflated, ringent flowers, in loose panicles. There is a plant known in our collections as _Bignònia stáns_, which is now _T. stàns_; has pinnated leaves, with oblong, lanceolate, serrated, leaflets; flowers in simple terminale, raceme, and of a yellow colour, and sometimes known by Ash-leaved _Bignònia_. It will always have a sickly aspect, if not well encouraged in light rich soil. Drain the pots well, as much moisture disfigures the foliage.

_Tabernæmontána_, a genus of little beauty, except for one or two species. A plant known in some collections as _Nèrium coronàrium_, is now, and properly, _T. coronària_. The variety, _flòre plèno_, is the one most deserving of culture, and will flower profusely from May to August; the flowers are double white, fragrant, and divaricating. The plant will lose its foliage if not kept in a strong heat; therefore place it in the warmest part of the Hot-house. _T. densiflòra_ is a fine species, but very rare. Drain all the plants well, and keep them in the shade during summer.

_Thrinax parviflòra_, is a fine dwarf palm of the West Indies, with palmated fronds, plaited with stiff, lanceolate segments. The plant is of easy cultivation, and will grow in any soil.

_Zàmia_, a genus of plants in the natural order of _Cycadeæ_. Several species of them are admired. _Z. média_, _Z. furfuràcea_, _Z. ténuis_, _Z. integrifòlia_, are the most showy that belong to the Hot-house. The whole genus is frequently kept in this department. They are all plants of a slow growth, and the beauty is entirely in the pinnated fronds, with from ten to forty pairs of leaflets. The pots must be well drained.

Those genera of plants which we have enumerated under the head of repotting in this or next month, are composed of the finest Hot-house plants that have come under our observation. There are perhaps a few of them that are not to be found in the United States, or even on our continent; but the great object, in a choice collection of plants, is to have the finest from all parts of the known world. There are many plants whose nature does not require much support from soil, which is frequently observed in those that are mentioned. And there are many hundreds of plants desirable for beauty, ornament, and curiosity, which are not specified, our limits not permitting such an extended detail. Those whose nature agrees better with repotting at other periods, shall be noticed, especially those that are in the collections of the country. We have previously observed, that plants ought not to be flooded with water when newly potted, as it saturates the soil before the roots have taken hold of it; and that the best draining for pots is small gravel or potshreds broken fine. We wish it to be understood that when plants are repotted, any irregular branch or shoot should be lopped off, that cannot be tied in to advantage. And repotting may take place either before or after the plants are exposed to the open air, according to convenience.

OF BRINGING OUT THE HOT-HOUSE PLANTS.

Where the Hot-house is very crowded with plants, the best method to have them exposed without danger is, to take out those of the hardiest nature first, that have no tender shoots upon them, thereby thinning the house gradually. This may be done from the 16th to the 20th of the month, which will admit of a free circulation of air amongst those that remain. All may be exposed from the 24th to the 28th of the month. This is a general rule, though in some seasons there maybe exceptions. Having previously given all the air possible to the house, that no sudden transition take place, which would make the foliage brown, and otherwise materially injure the plants, choose calm days for the removing of them.

There are few plants while in pots that agree with the full sun upon them; or if the plants receive the sun, the pots and roots ought not. The best situation for them is on the north side of a fence, wall, house, or other building, where they are excluded from the mid-day sun, and they should stand on boards or gravel, with the tallest at the back, firmly, tied to a rail or some other security, to prevent them from being overturned by high winds. A stage erected, where it is practicable, for the reception of the smaller plants, and they set thinly and regularly thereon, is preferable to crowding them with the taller sorts. And it may be desired to have some of the plants plunged in the garden through the flower borders. Of those that are so treated, the pots must be plunged to the brim, and regularly turned round every two weeks, to prevent the roots from running into the earth. If the roots were allowed to do so, it might for the present strengthen the plant, but ultimately would prove injurious.

Where a sufficiency of shade cannot be obtained, it would be advisable to go to the expense of a very thin awning, that would not exclude the light, but merely the powerful rays of the sun, attending to roll it up every evening. Plants will keep in beautiful order by the above method, which amply repays for the trouble or expense. Avoid putting plants under trees; comparatively few thrive in such situations.

When they are thus all exposed to the open air, it will be very little trouble to give them a gentle syringing every evening when there is no rain, and continue your usual examinations for insects: when they appear resort to the prescribed remedies. _Green-fly_ will not affect them, but perhaps the thrips. Give regular supplies of water to their roots every evening, and some will require it in the morning, especially small pots.

SUCCULENTS.

These plants are habituated to exposed dry, hot, situations in their indigenous state; and an aspect, where they would have the full influence of the sun, is the best, giving them water two or three times a week.

=Green-House.=

_MAY._

About the first of the month, all the small half hardy plants may be taken out of the green house, and those that are left will be more benefited by a freer circulation of air, which will enure them to exposure. The _Geraniums_ ought to stand perfectly clear of other plants, while in flower and growing, or they will be much drawn and spindly.

WATERING.

We have advanced so much on this subject, another observation is not necessary; except as to succulents, which are frequently overwatered about this period. Before they begin to grow, once a week is sufficient.

OF BRINGING OUT THE GREEN-HOUSE PLANTS.

Those trees or plants of _Orange_, _Lemon_, _Myrtle_, _Nerium_, &c. that were headed down with the intention of planting them into the garden, to renovate their growth, should be brought out and planted in the situations intended for them. A good light rich soil will do for either, and the balls of earth might be a little reduced, that when they are lifted they might go into the same pot or tub, or perhaps a less one. This being done, the plants, generally in a calm day from the 12th to the 18th of the month, should be taken out, carrying them directly to a situation shaded from the sun, and protected from the wind. In regard to a situation best adapted for them during summer, see _Hot-house_ this month, which will equally apply to Green-house plants, except _Dáphne odòra_, _Dáphne hybrida_, and the Green-house species of _Coronílla_, which must be shaded from every ray of the sun, and even from dry parching winds. All Primroses and Polyanthus delight in shade. The reason of so many plants of the _D. odòra_[H] dying is from the effects of the sun and water.

[H] On examining these plants, when the first appearance of decay affected them, the decayed part was without exception at the surface of the soil, which was completely mortified, while the top and roots were apparently fresh. This led us to conclude that the cause was the effect of sun and water on the stem. We have since kept the earth in a conical form round the stem, thereby throwing the water to the sides of the pot, and kept them in the shade. Previous to doing this, we had quantities died every year, and now no plants thus treated die with us.

The large trees may be fancifully set either in a spot for the purpose, or through the garden. Put bricks or pieces of wood under the tubs to prevent them from rotting, and strew a little litter of any description over the surface of the soil to prevent evaporation, or about one inch of well decayed manure, which will from the waterings help to enrich the soil. A liberal supply of water twice or three times a week is sufficient. A large tree will take at one time from two to four gallons. We make this observation, for many trees evidently have too limited a supply. Continue to syringe the plants through the dry season every evening, or at least three times per week. All the tall plants must be tied to some firm support, because the squalls of wind frequently overturn them, and do much harm by breaking, &c. Keep those that are in flower as much in the shade as will preserve them from the direct influence of the sun.

REPOTTING PLANTS.

After the following mentioned plants, or any assimilated to them, are brought out of the house, and before they are put in their respective stations, repot them where they are required to grow well. _Aloes._ These plants so varied in character, have been divided into several genera. These are _Gastèria_, _Pachidéndron_, _Riphidodéndron_, _Howárthia_, and _Apicra_. Of these there are above two hundred species and varieties. To enter into any specific detail, would be beyond our limits; but the catalogue at the end of the work will contain the finest species.