20G THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



making the border, if thouglit desirable, but it is uot necessary. 

 The border should be raised a few inches above the ground level, and 

 should iucliue gently to the front. Avoid if possible all future 

 cropping of the border with vegetables, or indeed anything, as it 

 robs the wall-trees of their rightful sustenance, and no amount of 

 manuring will make up for loss to the trees of the nourishment they 

 .should obtain from the unuianured soil. 



CULTURE OP ALOCASIAS. 



BY J. KAIfSLET TANTOIf, EPSOM NURSEET. 



OW seldom we see these glorious plants managed with 

 that skill which they deserve. Their beautiful and gro- 

 tesque markings render them the most gorgeous of all 

 fine-foliaged plants, and their characters are much more 

 aristocratic and peculiar than any other class with which 

 we are familiar. The geographical habitats from which they have 

 been introduced merely require to be cursorily studied to initiate 

 cultivators into the nature of their requirements — a diurnal tem- 

 perature of from 85' to 10o% falling at night often to 65' in damp 

 morasses, shaded by some wild giant of vegetation, with the roots 

 revelling in loose debris, occasioned by decaying vegetable refuse, 

 which has laid and accumulated for centuries. This material, rich 

 in humus, is what these plants delight in ; in artificial cultivation 

 we cannot too closely study the conditions which in a state of nature 

 produce these tropical beauties and wonders. 



I find the month of March is the best for starting all Alocasias. 

 If they are started before this period, they will, in beginning to 

 move, exhibit a want of strength and colouring in consequence of 

 insufficient sunlight. They should at this season be taken out, and 

 the roots well washed of all the old material, then repotted into an 

 admixture of peat, loam, cut sphagnum, and potsherds pounded 

 small. This should be prepared two or three days previous to using, 

 and placed in a warm house, in order that the soil may be warmed, 

 and brought into a favourable state for starting the roots. In potting, 

 one-half of the pot should be filled with crocks broken fine, and the 

 plant placed upon these, packing the soil round the plant and 

 among the roots very carefully. When completed, a gentle hotbed 

 should be ready to receive the plants, and the temperature kept at 

 from 70' to 88° during the day, and allowed to fall to 60' at night. 

 As the season advances, this temperature should be increased, the 

 plants syringed twice a day, and the temperature of the house kept 

 charged witTi moisture. This latter point should be particularly 

 attended to, as upon this much of the success depends. About the 

 month of June they can be removed from bottom-heat, and stood 

 about in stoves as ordinary objects of decoration, being careful not 

 to over- water them, or allow the water to be of a lower temperature 

 than the atmosphere in which they are placed. Towards the latter 



