212 THE FLORIST. 



CISSUS DISCOLOR. 



This magnificent new variegated plant is a native of Java, and 

 has been recently introduced to this country by the Messrs. Rol- 

 lisson of Tooting. It was the admiration of every one who saw it 

 at the Chiswick and Regent's Park exhibitions during last summer, 

 and it has been awarded several medals. The foliage is singularly 

 beautiful. It is a climbing evergreen stove-plant, with leaves about 

 seven inches long and three broad, their under sides being of a 

 beautiful reddish purple; their upper parts richly veined with red 

 purple and white, so as to be very striking, producing a fine effect 

 in a stove or an Orchid-house. I saw two fine plants of it at Messrs. 

 Rollissons' a few weeks ago ; they were growing in pots, and trained 

 against the end-wall of a stove, in which the charming effect of the 

 foliage was all that could be desired ; and this, being an evergreen 

 species, makes it more valuable, as of course it retains its beautiful 

 leaves during winter as well as summer; and during the dull months 

 we want some of these beautiful variegated plants to decorate our 

 stoves. 



I believe this plant is of tolerably easy culture, and grows well in 

 a pot, or planted out in the stove. The way in which Messrs. Rol- 

 lisson treat it is as follows : It is grown in a pot with good drainage, 

 the soil consisting of light turfy loam and peat, adding some leaf- 

 mould in equal parts, with some silver-sand, and mixing all well 

 together. If it is grown in a large pot, three inches of drainage are 

 given, with rough peat or moss on the top to keep the mould from 

 stopping up the interstices of the crocks, which is very detrimental to 

 all plants. If they have not good drainage, so that the water can 

 pass off quickly, they will not thrive. The pot is then filled up with 

 mould, and the plant placed about half an inch below the rim. After- 

 wards a gentle watering is given to settle the mould, and the plant 

 is placed at the hottest part of the house, and always kept shaded 

 when the sun is powerful, which keeps the foliage of a much better 

 colour. 



When grown in a pot it should be trained round some sticks, or 

 round a trellis, or against a wall ; it also looks well up the rafters of 

 a house. After the plant has done growing, which will be about 

 November, allow it a season of rest, by keeping it rather dry at the 

 roots ; only giving just enough water to keep them a little moist till it 

 is time to start it into growth, which is about February; then more 

 water may be given, but not too much at first, until it roots freely, 

 when it may have a good supply. 



Hoddesdon. B. S. Williams. 



