ALOE. 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants, 
35 
plants, must be avoided. Shade at all 
times when the sun is bright, but let the 
plants be kept well up to the light. By 
midsummer larger pots will most likely be 
wanted, as most of the kinds are free- 
rooters, but with such species as A. Veitchii 
care must be taken that too much pot 
room is not given. Syringe overhead 
freely once a day through the growing 
season, getting the water well to the back 
as well as the front of the leaves; if this 
is not done, red spider will most likely 
attack them. Through the summer months 
the temperature may vary from 70° to a 
little over at night, and from 80° to 85° in 
the daytime, giving water so as to keep the 
soil always moist. Reduce the heat and 
atmospheric moisture as autumn sets in, 
dispense with shading as soon as the sun’s 
power declines enough to allow this to be 
done, and syringe overhead seldomer. 
In winter the temperature should be 
about 65° at night, with a proportionate 
rise by day. Nothing further is required 
except pot-room according to the size to 
which the specimens are wanted to grow. 
‘Such sorts as A. metallica may be grown 
to 6 feet or 7 feet through if desired, and 
weaker growers in proportion, but for 
general purposes smaller examples will 
be more useful. Each spring the plants 
should be turned out of their pots, and all 
the old soil removed, and replaced with 
new material. This is necessary, as, if an 
attempt is made to keep them a second 
year in the same soil, that will, most likely, 
before the end of the season, get decom- 
posed and too pasty, conditions under 
which the roots are sure to perish. A. 
macrorhiza variegata does best in good 
fibrous loam, made very rich by the addi- 
tion of one-third dry shaly manure, like 
that obtainable round the outside of an old 
hotbed, with sand sufficient to keep it 
sweet. This plant should be grown 
annually from a single sucker of the pre- 
vious year’s propagation, which, if well 
managed, will attain a size of 7 feet or 8 
feet in diameter, and in this state, with its 
beautifully variegated leaves, it is one of 
the most effective of all variegated plants. 
The best kinds are :— 
A. Chelsoni. A hybrid raised between 
A. metallica and A. longiloba. It produces 
large leaves, shining green on the upper 
surface, purple beneath. 
A. illustris. An Indian kind, not un- 
like A. Jenningsii, but a stronger grower ; 
its leaves, like that kind, are green, 
‘mottled with blackish olive. 
A. intermedia. This variety was raised 
by crossing A. longiloba with A. Veitchii. 
It has much of the beautiful greyish metal- 
lic shade of A. Veitchii, but grows a good 
deal larger. 
A. Jenningsit. A handsome small-grow- 
ing species from India, with leaves 8 inches 
or 9 inches long, of a rich green colour, 
and blotched with black or dark brown 
between the veins. 
A. Johnston. A singular species, with 
spiny leaf-stalks and arrow-shaped leaves, 
green, veined with red. A native of the 
Solomon Islands. 
A, Loww. Similar to A. Veitchii in form 
of leaf, but the upper surface is much 
greener, and barred with metallic tints ; it 
is likewise a much better grower than 
Veitchii. A native of Borneo. 
A, macrorliza variegata. A beautiful, 
large-growing species, with cordate leaves, 
pale green, with large white blotches, which 
sometimes cover half the surface. Ceylon. 
A. Marshallit. An Indian species in the 
way of A. Jenningsii, but with a broad 
silvery band down the centre of the leaves. 
A. metallica. A Bornean sort, with large, 
shield-shaped, metallic-tinted leaves, and 
one which may be grown to a large size. 
A. Roezli costata. A medium-growing, 
green-leaved species, blotched with silvery 
grey. From the United States of Colombia. 
A. Sedeni. A hybrid raised between A. 
Lowi and A. metallica ; in form most like 
the first-named parent. A handsome plant. 
A, Thibautiana. A Bornean species 
something in the way of A. Lown, but 
larger. Blackish green in colour, with 
distinct white veins. 
A. Veitchit. A very handsome species, 
also from Borneo, having long arrow- 
shaped foliage, with ivory-white midribs, 
and a bluish slate-like colour on the upper 
surface of the leaves, which are deep pur- 
ple beneath. 
A, zebrina. <A strong-growing species 
with large sagittate leaves, green in colour, 
stalks banded with blackish green, which 
gives the plant a handsome appearance. 
Philippine Islands. 
Insncts.— The regular syringing re- 
quired for these Alocasias through the 
growing season will keep down the smaller 
insects that attack them, such as aphides, 
thrips, or red spider ; should mealy bug 
by chance effect a lodgment on the back 
of the foliage or leaf-stalks, it must be re- 
moved by sponging, 
ALOE, 
These are greenhouse succulent plants, 
nearly all coming from the Cape of Good 
Hope. A few of them are worth growing 
for their handsome leaves, in addition to 
their somewhat singular flowers. 
