68 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Solanum Capsecastrum . 



THIS Solanum is a valuable addition to our 

 greenhouse plants during winter and 

 early spring, its ornamental berries, bear- 

 ino- a resemblance to miniature oranges, make a 

 fine display during the dull winter months. It 

 is of easy cultivation, and propagates readily 

 from seeds or cuttings. Nice plants can be 

 obtained the season following propagation. In 

 order to secure sturdy plants they should be 

 heeled out early in May in an open border, 

 where the sun's rays will have full effect, in 



Fruiting Spray of Solanum Capsecastrum. 



order to induce a profusion of bloom, which 

 certainly means a better return of berries. 

 During dry weather the plants should not be 

 allowed to suffer from want of water. When 

 they have set all, or at least the majority of 

 their berries, which is generally about the end 

 of September, they may be taken up carefuUv, 

 the svu'plus soil shaken away, when they can be 

 re-potted in soil containing three parts fibrous 

 loam, one part leaf soil, with a mixture of old 

 mortar rubble passed through a half-inch riddle. 

 When potted they may be allowed to stand in a 

 shaded position out-doors until they recover ; 



they can then be placed on some coal ashes in a 

 pit or frame, keeping close, and shaded from 

 strong sunshine, with an occasional syringe 

 over-head. As these plants are g-enerally liable 

 to insect pests, keep a sharp look out for them, 

 and if any come under notice check at once by 

 fumigation or spraying with an insecticide. If it 

 is desired to have the plants look their best for 

 Christmas decoration, they may be gradually 

 introduced into heat ; it will be an advan- 

 tage to the ripening of the berries if the strag- 

 gling shoots are pinched at the same time. As 

 the plants are now in artificial heat, they will be 

 more subject to attacks of insect pests, and as 

 prevention is better than cure, occasional fumi- 

 gation should be resorted to, when the care be- 

 stowed on them will be amply re-paid by having 

 fine, healthy plants to brighten the conservatory 

 or sitting-room, where their bright berries, com- 

 bined with their dark green foliage, will add a 

 charm to the surroundings. P. Mahon. 



5^* ^* ^^ 



The Indiarubber Plant. 



ALTHOUGH indiarubber plants are invaluable for 

 room, table and window decoration, and thrive 

 much better in such situations than the majority 

 of plants, they require an even tmd equable temperature, 

 sudden chang^es and alternate spells of heat and cold 

 being common causes of the plants becoming- sickly in 

 appearance and losing their leaves. Ficus elastica 

 succeeds well in compost consisting of three parts 

 fibrous loam, one part leaf soil, one part peat, and one 

 part sand, whilst a temperature of from 55 to 60 degrees 

 during the summer and from 45 to 50 degrees during 

 the winter is desirable. To keep the shining green 

 leaves in good condition they must be frequently 

 syringed and sponged, and the plants be shaded from 

 the sun, whilst during the spring and summer a liberal 

 supply of water at the roots must be given. In course 

 of time indiarubber plants grow tall, and lose their 

 lower leaves, becoming unsightly in appearance and 

 quite useless for decorative purposes. There are two 

 ways of dealing with such plants, one being to stem- 

 root them, and so reduce their height and bring them 

 into better shape, and the other to utilise the plants for 

 propagating purposes in the manner afterwards de- 

 scribed. Stem-rooting consists of inducing roots to be 

 emitted from the stem of the plant at a certain point, 

 April and May being the best months to perform the 

 operation, the method of procedure being illustrated in 

 the accompanying sketches. An indiarubber plant that 

 has lost its lower leaves is shown in Fig. 1, the letter A 

 indicating the point at which it is desired to cause roots 

 to be emitted. A ,-; or 4-inch pot should be sawn or 

 split into two pieces, and the drainage hole be enlarged 

 so that the pot will fit round the stem of the plant. 

 With a sharp knife an upward cut must be made in the 

 stem of the plant at the point A to form a tongue about 

 half the thickness of the stem, as shown in F"igs. i and 

 4, a small stone being placed in the cut to keep it open. 

 With a length of raffia the split pot should be bound 

 together lound the stem of the plant at the point where 

 the cut has been made, and be supported with two or 

 three sticks, as shown in Fig. 2. Fill the small pot 

 with sandy soil as Fig. 4, making it moderately firm, 

 and stand the plant in a warm and moist position in the 



