Achimenes

THE ACHIMENES, Achimenes longiflor

ACHIMENES, Gloxinia, and Gesneria are three floral graces-gifts of the new world to the old, related as a sisterhood of beauty, and requiring almost identical conditions of life to insure their health and to win their smiles. The plant before us is singularly beautiful, and the easiest of the genus for the amateur to cultivate, as a warm greenhouse temperature suffices for it, whereas most other species of achimenes require the heat of the stove. There are several varieties of longiflora, but it will suffice to take not of two only-the violet-flowered from now figured, and the white, which is named alba. These are fine pot-plants, and those who succeed in cultivating them may be advised to secure also Gloxinia tubiflora, which is quite a companion plant, with long-tubed white flowers, which are carried on a long stem far above the rest of the achimenes and gloxinias.

The routine culture of achimenes admits of brief description without omission of any matter of importance. They are of annual growth, and are renewed as required by planting the dormant tubers in pots or pans. The usual time to commence the cultivation is the month of January, but successive supplies should be started later where a continuous display of the flowers is required. The tubers may be put into pans or baskets in a mixture of peat or silky loam, leaf-mould, and sharp sand. They should be planted thickly-say two or three inches apart. Very little water should be given until they are growing freely, and for the first few days none at all. When put into baskets a lining of moss must be provided to keep the soil together, and this should consist for the most part of fibrous peat or loam, which will of itself hold together like moss. A moist heat is required to start the tubers-say 65 degree by night and 70 degree by day. Where this cannot be commanded in January a warm greenhouse will suffice, provided the first batch is put into the pans in the month of March, as then the sun-heat is rapidly advancing, and the warmest part of the house may be allotted to them. At all times the atmosphere in which achimenes are grown should be warm and moist, and hence it is customary in many gardens to grow these and gloxinias in an orchid house. As regards water, they must have plenty when in full growth, and, from the time when the bloom buds appear, weak liquid manure should be given them until the flowering is over. Then they must be gradually dried off, and when the leaves have withered, the pots or pans should be stored away with the roots in them undisturbed, and must be kept dry, and in a temperature of 45 degree to 50 degree until the time returns to start them into growth again. Large specimens carefully trained make useful subjects for the exhibition table, as also for the conservatory. They require constant care, and especially careful handling, to insure a complete contour, an abundant bloom, and a dense and healthy leafage.