78 THE FLORIST. 



urn is tasteless, and resembles water ; but after being exposed to 

 the influence of the atmosphere, it becomes mucilaginous, and at- 

 tracts insects in great numbers, where, in the attempt to suck up 

 the liquor, they become immersed, and are drowned. The flowers 

 of N. distillatoria, when fresh, have a very disagreeable odour ; but 

 in N. Rafiiesiana it is not found. 



The geographical distribution of all the species belonging to this 

 genus seems wholly confined to the East Indies and China, where 

 they inhabit shaded jungles, rocky islands, humid forests, or other 

 situations where there is plenty of moisture. Eight species have 

 been found in the western part of Borneo. The present species 

 was found by Dr. Jack, inhabiting a forest in the island of Singa- 

 pore, with N. ampulacea ; and on the return of Captain Bethune 

 from his scientific mission from Borneo, a Wardian case was filled 

 with them, and brought to England, with the plants in a living 

 state ; it was received in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in No- 

 vember 1845. They were in good health, and were the first of this 

 species, which is one of the most valuable acquisitions, ever intro- 

 duced to this country alive ; but since, through the enterprising 

 spirit of a few of our principal nurserymen, others have been intro- 

 duced, and we are now^ in the possession of nine living species of 

 this genus of Pitcher-plants. 



Ciihwation.— Being natives of a hot humid climate within the 

 tropics, they require the artificial heat of our stoves, where they can 

 have a sufficient supply of moisture : although they will bear a con- 

 siderable degree of cold with impunity, yet it is only by the ap- 

 plication of great warmth, combined with a humid atmosphere, that 

 they can be brought to any degree of perfection. They are most 

 suitable for an Orchidaceous house, where a high temperature is 

 kept ; there they generally thrive with vigour. When once esta- 

 blished, it is better to let them remain for several years without 

 much shifting ; for they become somewhat intractable by removal, 

 and are often lost, or become very languid. A mixture of chopped 

 sphagnum moss, a little sand, turfy peat, and loam, is a good com- 

 post to pot them with ; supply them freely with water while growl- 

 ing, and let the thermometer range from 70° to 90° Fahrenheit, 

 lowering gradually as they approach the season of rest. An arti- 

 ficial bank, with an undulating surface, formed with stones, broken 

 bricks, and turfy sphagnum moss, makes an excellent receptacle, 

 where the pots can be plunged up to the rim. From absorbing a 

 quantity of water, a continual evaporation of moisture is always 

 diffused through the atmosphere, which prevents it becoming too 

 dry ; by this means the plants are kept in a healthy condition. The 

 bank may be covered with Lycopodiums and a few dwarf-growing 

 ferns, which wall give a neat and natural appearance to the whole. 

 By this treatment the various species are cultivated in the Royal 

 Botanic Gardens, Kew, where N. Rafflesiana and N. distillatoria are 

 now more than sixteen feet high, very healthy, and bearing abund- 

 ance of pitchers. 



Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. J. Houlston. 



