WINTER-FLOWERING greenhouse plants have been, with in the past few years, considerably enriched by the introduction of improved varieties of bouvardias. They are all neat-growing and free-flowering shrubs, producing delicate tubular flowers in clusters; and, though none of them should be described as massive or showy, they are invaluable, whether as, plants or as flowers, for various decorative purposes. More than this, they are particularly well suited for the green house of an eclectic amateur, for they belong to a higher range in gradations of merit than many subjects that are in general favour, and they require a little more care than the generality of plants that flower in the winter season.

Bouvardias are members of the great order of Cinchonads, and are, therefore, remarkably well connected as regards family relationships. In this order we find the trees that produce Peruvian bark, and with them such important subjects as coffee, ixora, rondeletia, manettia, gardenis, mussaenda, and ipecacuanha. Of Dr. Bouvard, curator of the Botanic Garden at Paris, there is not much known; but we find in the books a treatise on the fungi of the forest of Mormal, published at Lille, but whether by the man of science to whom the genus Bouvardia is dedicated, we cannot say.

The Cinchonads agree pretty nearly in one of their requirements. When under cultivation they need more than the average warmth of the greenhouse, many of them being true stove plants, and a few requiring the hottest place in the stove. The bouvardia is an exception so far that greenhouse cultivation suffices for it; but to enjoy its beautiful flowers in winter, something approximating to stove culture must be practised. For keeping the plants in health a temperature of 35 degree to 45 degree Fahr. suffices during winter, but we prefer to get them forward for winter flowers, and to provide for them a temperature of 50 degree to 65 degree, with a rather liberal amount of atmospheric moisture, for when thus aided they bloom with delightful freedom, and there is nothing in the winter garland under glass that can surpass them.

Bouvardias may be grown from seeds and cuttings. In a garden of limited extent, propagation by cuttings alone should be practised, as it is at once certain, simple, and rapid. The cuttings should be taken from growing plants in the month of March or April, and planted firmly in sandy peat, and the process of rooting is promoted by a kindly moist heat, say a temperature of 70 degree. The best soil for them is a good turfy loam, with a reasonable addition of sharp sand; but in good peat they grow freely. In any case, strong manures are rather to be avoided than used, although we must confess that we have often aided large specimens by administering weak manure water occasionally.

In the formation of specimens, the natural growth should be humoured rather than checked; but a moderate amount of stopping to promote the formation of side shoots, and to furnish the lower parts of the plants, may be advisable. Over-potting is to be guarded against, therefore there should be no shift until the pots are well filled with roots, when the next size should be used; not, as some overhasty cultivators advocate, pots two or three sizes larger. The long rods that rise from the base indicate healthy vigour, and should not be stopped until they have attained their full length and are beginning to harden, when a moderate shortening may be performed.

To regulate the flowering time of all such plants is an easy matter. It may be reckoned that from six weeks to two months will be required from the last stopping to the time of flowering, according to the season. If they are to be allowed to flower at their own time, there should be very little stopping. But if they are required to flower at a particular time, then flowering should not be allowed in advance of that time, but should be checked by careful stopping, training, and a shift into the next size of pots when the roots need it. This practice will tend to the formation of large handsome plants, but must cease entirely six to eight weeks before the time at which it is desired they shall flower. It only remains then to leave them alone, with no more shifting or stopping, keeping them warm enough and liberally supplied with water, with--if the pots are well filled with roots--weak liquid manure occasionally.

There are double and single bouvardias in cultivation, all of them exceedingly beautiful. A fine half-dozen for a comfortable greenhouse are: Bridal Wreath, white, very fragrant; Queen of Roses, rosy pink; Hogarth, rosy scarlet; Dazzler, full bright scarlet; Alfred Neuner, double white; Jasminiflora, white, fine for winter.

When they are to be wintered in a cool house, bouvardias may be planted in the open ground to make free growth from June to September.them in masses with singularly good effect in a country garden, where there were ample breadths of grass and trees. The tritomas were in large, long beds, and mixed with them were lilies, and the outer boundary was made up with agapanthus, which, as a hardy plant, flowers at the same time as the tritoma, and, when established, flowers as freely.

The flame or torch lily will thrive in any good soil, but a deep sandy loam is certainly the best for it. Occasionally it produces seed freely, but we must confess we never took the trouble to sow any, because we could always obtain as many plants as were required by the simple process of division, which not only multiplies the stock, but insures flowering plants at once, without the necessity for nursing. It has been our rule, in dividing tritomas, agapanthuses, crinums, and other such plants, to pot the divisions in the smallest pots possible with sandy soil, and so keep them until growing freely, when, the pots being filled with roots, they may be planted out with safety. In places where the climate is genial and the soil dry, the divisions may be planted where they are to remain, for there will be but little risk of failure. These fine plants are thirsty subjects, and if it be possible to supply them with abundance of water during hot, dry, summer weather, they will repay such attention with liberal interest. But it is of the very first importance that the ground they occupy should be reasonably dry during winter. A boggy or sour situation will insure the death of many in a severe winter, but on well-drained land these plants are perfectly hardy; and if killed down in spring, as will sometimes happen, they will in due time renew themselves from the roots, if left undisturbed and kept free from encroaching plants that might spread over and injure them.

Tritomas are natives of South Africa, and members of the great order of Lilies. There are not many species, and the few recorded are more than are wanted, if their value is to be estimated from the gardener's point of view. We begin with T. uvaria, as the best of the group in respect of hardiness, amplitude of dark, rigid leafage, and an abundant production of its cylindrical racemes of fiery flowers.

The varieties known as T. glaucescens and T. Burchelli have no special value as garden flowers, but will prove interesting to amateurs whose tastes range freely amongst plants. But for T. nobilis and for T. grandis a good word may be said. These are noble plants, and have a remarkably fine effect when well placed in a spacious rockery. T. nobilis is scarce and dear; T. uvaria is plentiful and cheap, and the best for all general purposes, though in character below that of T. nobilis.

Tritoma caulescens is a beautiful plant, with peculiar glaucous leafage and a stout stem, bearing a dense head of flowers of a fiery-red colour passing into yellow. It is strikingly distinct, and a proper adornment of a roomy rockery, where it should have a sunny situation on a well drained sandy soil. It is hardy, but unequal to the endurance of severe conditions; therefore it is advisable to give it some protection during frosty weather.

T. carnosa is a good plant, of smallish growth, forming a series of tufts, from which rise the flower-stalks, a foot or more high, bearing crowded flowers of a rich orange-buff colour.

T. Macowani is a pretty little plant, usually regarded as requiring greenhouse cultivation, although it is probably hardy. The flowers are in a dense cluster, the tube red, the mouth yellow.

T. Rooperi is a grand plant, from British Kaffraria. The leaves are broad, and average eighteen inches long; the flowers appear on a stout stem, and form a club-like mass, brilliantly coloured red and yellow. It is as hardy as T. uvaria, and flowers later.