The thyrse flowering Bilbergia (Bilbergia thyrs-oidea) is a very singular and attractive stove, or hot-house plant, belonging to the natural order, Bromeliaceae. Its native country is Brazil, where, it is said, it can be found growing abundantly on rocks near the city of Rio Janeiro. It is a plant that to some extent resembles a pine-apple in its manner of growth, the leaves being loosely arranged and of a dark green color, rather wavy, having small serratures and terminating in a short, abrupt point. From the center of the plant arises the inflorescence, consisting of a strikingly beautiful oblong cone, or thyrse, having a crimson stalk, or stem, and rich crimson bracts very regularly arranged. The flowers are, when fully expanded, about the same size as the bracts and of nearly the same color, the oblong sepals being much shorter than the closed up straight, erect petals; as the cone or thyrse remains in perfection for two or three weeks, some idea can be formed of its beauty, the contrast between the bright green leaves and the dark crimson cone being so very striking.

Well grown specimens flower freely during the autumn months, or from September to December.

Propagation is effected by division of the plant, and this operation is best performed just before the the plant starts into growth. In order to cultivate this Bilbergia satisfactorily, it should be potted in a compost of one-half well rotted sods and one-half rotted cow manure, or leaf mould, and also mix a quantity of charcoal (broken fine) with the compost. Use a pot suitable to the size of the plant, and take every care to drain it well. When growing, keep it in as warm and moist a situation as one has at his command, and give a good supply of water; but when in a dormant state very little is required, and at that time a temperature of from 550 to 6o° suffices. In the cultivation of Bil-bergias it is well to remember the fact that great heat and moisture given them, during their season of growth, causes an increase in the size and vigor in the growth of the plant, and consequently an increase in the size of the flowering thyrse; and, whether it is desired to increase the plant or not, it should be repotted every season before its growth commences.

Good, strong plants can be obtained of our principal florists at a reasonable price.