36 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
AMARYLLIS. 
They are propagated from suckers taken 
off the old plants in spring, inserted in 
small pots, and placed where they will get 
a little extra warmth. Ordinary loam 
with a liberal addition of sand and small 
pot shreds suits them, and they should be 
given more root-room as they increase in 
size. They require little water in winter, 
but should have the soil kept moderately 
moist during the growing season 
The following are the most distinct :— 
A. abyssinica. A stout-growing species, 
with thick, fleshy leaves, long and broad ; 
green, spined on the edges. From Abys- 
sinia. 
A. Soccotriana. A branching plant, 
with upright habit ; leaves green, spined 
on the edges. 
A. varvegata. The well-known _part- 
ridge-breasted Aloe. A pretty window 
plant, thriving where many things would 
not grow. Leaves stout, six to eight 
inches long ; green, banded with grey. 
Insects.—The nature of these plants is 
such that few insects affect them ; green- 
fly is sometimes troublesome on the young 
flower-spikes ; fumigation isthe bestremedy. 
ALOYSIA CITRIODORA. 
This, which is a deciduous greenhouse 
plant, is synonymous with Verbena trip- 
hylla, or the Lemon-scented Verbena as it 
is often called. It is a native of Chili, and 
has insignificant flowers. Its pale-green 
lanceolate leaves are highly fragrant, and 
for them the plant is cultivated, and is a 
general favourite. 
It strikes freely from cuttings, inserted 
in sand in the spring, covered with a bell 
glass, kept moist and shaded in a moderate 
heat ; thus treated they will root in a few 
weeks, when they must be moved singly 
to small pots, in sandy loam. As soon as 
growth has fairly commenced stop the 
points to cause the formation of side 
shoots ; this operation should be repeated 
two or three times to secure a bushy con- 
dition of the plants. Give larger pots when 
required ; 5 or 6 inches in diameter will 
be big enough for the first year. After 
they are fairly established greenhouse 
treatment is all they need, such for in- 
stance as Fuchsias succeed with as to air 
warmth and moisture. In the winter they 
should be kept drier, and may with ad- 
vantage have their shoots shortened back 
before they start into growth in the spring, 
removing part of the old soil and giving 
pots two or three sizes larger ; afterwards 
treat as in the preceding summer. 
The plants may be kept for a number of 
years by giving increased root-room, pre- 
viously cutting in the branches moderately ; 
in this way their deliciously-scented 
shoots will admit of being used freely for 
mixing with cut flowers. 
InsEcts.—The plant is liable to the 
attacks of most insects that feed on green- 
house plants generally ; for aphides and 
thrips fumigate, syringe and sponge to get 
rid of scale. 
ALSOPHILA. 
This genus of Ferns contains stove as 
well as greenhouse species. The cooler 
kinds are the most deserving of notice, 
but neither are equal from a gardening 
point of view to the Cyatheas and Dick- 
sonias. 
For propagation and cultivation, see 
Ferns, general details of culture. 
STOVE SPECIES. 
. contaminans. Philippine Islands. 
. lunulata. Polynesia. 
. Rebecee. Queensland. 
bs fx fx 
GREENHOUSE SPECIES. 
. australis. Australia. 
. Beyrichiana. 
. excelsa. Norfolk Island. 
. Leichardtiana. New South Wales. 
Pe bs a fa 
AMARYLLIS. 
These are stove bulbous plants, many of 
which are evergreen, while others shed 
their leaves in winter, the principle differ- 
ence in their culture being that the ever- 
green kinds, although requiring to be kept 
much drier at the roots when not growing 
during the winter season, must not be 
allowed ever to become quite dry—a 
condition necessary with such as are 
deciduous. Of the first species introduced, 
a few are from the Cape of Good Hope and 
the West Indies, but the greater number 
are indigenous to Brazil and the adjacent 
countries. From these have sprung the 
present race of splendid hybrids, possessing 
a free habit of blooming, and producing 
large and truly gorgeous flowers, wherein 
the stripping and blending of soft and 
intensely deep colours are combined in a 
way that is not surpassed by any plants in 
cultivation. They possess the double merits 
of being easily grown and not getting too 
«big for those who have not the convenience 
of large stoves. They succeed well in good 
fibrous loam of a strong nature, with just 
as much sand added as will ensure its not 
getting sour and impervious to the plentiful 
supply of water they require when growing. 
