BOUVARDIA

bouvardia, a genus of handsome evergreen greenhouse shrubs, belonging to the natural order rubiaceae, and a native of tropical america. the flowers are in terminal generally many-flowered clusters; the corolla has a large tube and a spreading four-rayed limb. the cultivated forms include a number of hybrids. the plants are best increased by cuttings taken off in april, and placed in a brisk heat in a propagating frame with a close atmosphere. when rooted they should be potted singly into 3-in. pots in fibrous peat and loam, mixed with one-fourth leaf-mould and a good sprinkling of sand, and kept in a temperature of 70 deg. by night and 80 deg. during the day; shade when required; syringe overhead in the afternoon and close the house with sun-heat. the plants should be topped to ensure a bushy habit, and as they grow must be shifted into 6-in. or 7-in. pots. after midsummer move to a cool pit, where they may remain till the middle of september, receiving plenty of air and space. they should then be removed to a house, and some of the plants put at once in a temperature of about 70 deg. at night, with a few degrees higher in the daytime, to bring them into flower. others are moved into heat to supply flowers in succession through the winter and spring.