MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 159 
cut only half-way through and a day or two later severed 
from the parent plant. As the cuttings go into sand after 
the bottom heat is reduced, they must be well shaded and 
kept moist, especially upon hot days. By this method 
they will root in about 3 weeks. Sometimes the cut- 
tings are potted singly in 24-inch pots of sand with a little 
sphagnum moss at the bottom for the roots to grip. These 
pots should be placed in a tight case, shaded, and kept at a 
temperature of 65° F, As soon as rooted the cuttings are 
potted into 31-inch pots, using a mixture of equal parts 
of loam, leaf mold, and sand. For the first few days until 
the plants become established they should be shaded and 
kept moist by frequent syringing. After that, full sunlight 
and plenty of fresh air are required. In general, the tem- 
perature should never go below 50° F. at night, and as soon 
as plants begin to show color it should be raised to 65-70° 
F. When the bracts and flowers have developed properly 
the temperature should be decreased gradually to harden 
the plants off and thus increase their lasting qualities. For 
the final potting the plants are shifted from 34-inch to 
6-inch pots, using a mixture of 3 parts good loam and 1 
part cow manure or % sheep manure. The young plants 
should be fed with liquid manure once a week until the 
flowers appear. In the event of their becoming too tall 
during the summer months the stems are ringed within 
6-7 inches of the top about the end of August. They should 
be cut half-way through at first and left for a couple of 
weeks until a callus is formed. The shoots may then be sev- 
ered, potted into 3-inch pots in a mixture of sand and loam, 
and kept in a close case until well rooted. The subsequent 
treatment is the same as that previously descri for 
cuttings. 
Often much of the beauty of the poinsettia is lost by al- 
lowing the handsome green foliage to become yellow and 
drooping. This state may be caused by too low a tempera- 
ture, drought, starvation at the roots—either because of poor 
soil or lack of root room—, or disturbance of the roots by 
late potting. This last is one of the commonest troubles, as 
the plants cannot endure to have their roots disturbed when 
near the flowering period. 
_ Due to the acrid milky juice contained in the plants, 
insect are sm arf few. The mealy bug and the 
green fly may be eradicated by syringing and tobacco fumi- 
gation. The white fly may be exterminated by the use of 
hydrocyanic gas. 3 
