Luculia gratissima. Green-house evergreen shrub.

Propagation By Cuttings

"In propagating this take a piece of light peat and break it quite fine, add about one-third of fine silver sand, mix this well together, and taking some small thumb pots, place one crock at the bottom of each pot, and fill them with the above compost, about three parts full, press this down in the centre of the pot, and fill the remainder of the pot with silver sand ; give them a good watering to settle the cuttings, then take a large pot and fill it half full of draining, and the remainder with sand or gravel, and then plunge four of the little pots in this large one, and place a bell-glass over them. Plunge in bottom-heat, and in about a month the cuttings are rooted and fit for potting off into small sixty-pots; keep them close for about a week or so".

Grafting

Mr. Beaton grafts the Luculia upon stocks of Burchellia ca-pensis. - Gard. Chron.

After-Culture

"Drainage is absolutely indispensable for Luculia. During the summer and early autumnal months water should be freely supplied, and the under surface of the leaves, as well as the whole plant, repeatedly washed with the fine rose of the syringe. The general waterings must also be gradually diminished in September, and afterwards administered very sparingly, for the fine fibrous roots are easily injured by too much moisture. It requires a much cooler treatment than it generally receives, and should never be grown in a pot when it can be planted out in a conservatory." - Gard. Chron.

"It is not inclined to grow naturally, and therefore should not be stimulated in the spring and early summer. During that period it should be kept in a greenhouse : towards the end of May and the beginning of June, it should be planted out in a warm place rather sheltered from the sun. In August or September it should be taken up and repotted, and placed in a vinery or cool hot-house. It will then grow vigorously, and form its head of blossoms, which are both beautiful and fragrant, and expand during the greater part of the winter. It may be kept in the drawing room without injury till it has done flowering, and should then be returned to the green-house."-Gard. Chron.