I873-] CALADIUM METALLICUM. 323 



half an inch in length, and no more than just buried in an open sandy- 

 compost, renders its propagation in any quantity a very easy matter. 

 The eyes, of course, require bottom-heat to start them quickly ; the tops 

 of the shoots make plants very much more quickly than the eyes do. 

 Let us suppose a plant has been struck in a 5 -inch pot — if the shoots 

 are strong and the leaves large, a 6-inch pot would be better — which 

 pot has been about half filled with drainage, and the compost well per- 

 meated with roots ; then prepare an 8 or 9 inch pot by inverting a 3- 

 inch pot over the hole in the bottom, and fill more than half-way up 

 the pot with crocks; place a layer of the turfiest part of the compost 

 over these, and the pot is ready for its occupant. In potting, keep the 

 collar of the plant at least level with the rim of the pot, rounding it 

 off to I of an inch below the rim at the sides. The compost most suit- 

 able is the most fibrous turf, and the same quality of peat if come-at-able, 

 in equal proportions, and used in lumps, with a free admixture of 

 coarse silver sand ; bits of charcoal and a few half-inch bones mixed 

 with it will be of advantage. If the aim of the cultivator be to get 

 up a large specimen in the shortest possible time, keep the plant in a 

 warm stove, constantly syringed to keep down red-spider, which affects 

 it, and the roots in a moist condition. When another shift is required, 

 put it into a 12-inch pot, filling it well up with drainage, and potting 

 after the same man-ner. A 15-inch will be a suitable-sized pot for 

 another shift. If this size be fixed on as the largest pot the plant is to 

 occupy, dressings of the same as the compost used for potting will be 

 found useful at intervals. Those who are fond of using manure-water 

 will find this a subject that will, when it has well filled the pot with 

 roots, put away almost any quantity. Young fresh-grown plants in 

 6-inch pots are useful for furnishing vases, or other room-decoration. 



The same treatment will be found suitable for Anthurium Lindenii, 

 Scherzerianum, &c., Maranta A^eitchii, and others. Alocasia Mac- 

 rorhiza variegata does well in the same compost, though a larger pro- 

 portion of turfy loam is better for this plant than would be safe to use 

 for the others. If there is any secret in the successful culture of these 

 plants, it is to be found in using a compost thoroughly open, and 

 giving, so to speak, unlimited quantities of water when once they are in 

 full growth at root. R. P. B. 



PrxK Carxatiox Souvenir de Malmaisox. — We have received from Mr 

 Wm, Young, Edinburgh, a most beautiful pink variety of tWs fine pot Carnation. 

 It is the same as the common variety, but of a hvely pink colour and very- 

 sweet. 



