14 Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
the progress it has made; such as are 4 
inches to 6 inches in diameter will most 
likely be found large enough. Soil a 
little heavier than that in which they 
were started should be used, the drainage 
made secure and the soil pressed firm. 
Increase the heat as the days lengthen, 
give air and shade as required, with 
lenty of water to the roots, and syringe 
reely overhead daily. Treat generally as 
advised for the preceding summer, and 
alike similarly through the winter ; again 
give more root-room about February, 
shifting them into pots from 2 inches to 4 
inches larger as the plants seem to require 
more or less room. Do not let the roots 
get cramped at this early stage, except in 
the case of such as are required for use in 
a miniature state. 
For decorative purposes in a larger 
state, it will usually be found advisable to 
grow the different kinds on to a height of 
3 feet or 4 feet with as little delay as 
possible; consequently, until that or some- 
thing ofa like size has been attained it will 
be well to treat them to as much root-room 
as will in this way assist free growth. All 
that is required afterwards is to continue 
the treatment hitherto advised summer 
and winter, regulating the size of the pots 
according to the size the plants are desired 
to be grown to. Most of the smaller grow- 
ing kinds can be kept in a healthy state 
for years in pots from 10 inches to 18 
inches in diameter, but when so restricted 
they must have manure water once or 
twice a week through the growing season, 
or the leaves will most likely be deficient 
in that healthy green colour which adds 
so materially to their appearance. Many 
of the stove species will bear standing in a 
warm conservatory for a time during the 
summer season, and so used will be found 
very attractive, but they should be returned 
to warmer quarters as the weather gets 
cooler. Care ought always to be taken 
that they have enough shade in bright 
weather to prevent the leaves being dis- 
figured, for, if scorched with the sun, it 
takes a considerable time to admit of their 
regaining their wonted appearance—only 
possible by reclothing with new leaves. 
The species of Palms that will suc- 
ceed all the year round with greenhouse 
treatment are comparativeiy lmited in 
number. Their propagation is the same 
as advised for the stove kinds, except that 
it is not necessary to give them quite so 
much heat. It is well for the first two or 
three years to afford them an intermediate 
temperature, as by this means time is 
saved in getting them up to a useful size. 
Where there 1s a house at command 
ABUTILON, 
sufficiently large to allow of any of the 
favourite large growing kinds attaining 
a great size, such as to show something 
approaching their true character, the best 
course is to plant them out in a bed of 
good loamy soil—drained and sufficiently 
large to sustain them. In a case of this 
kind, however, it is well to grow them on 
in pots for some years until they have 
attained a size which will admit of their 
roots being present in quantities sufficient 
to run freely in the bed. It is well to 
observe here that the sorts which require 
comparatively little heat are much the 
most useful to the ordinary cultivator. 
Insects.—The hard texture of the leaves 
of Palms is such that insects do not thrive 
upon them to such an extent as on many 
plants ; yet, thrips, scale, and mealy bug 
frequently trouble them. Fumigate for 
the destruction of the thrips ; a free use of 
the syringe and sponging are the best 
means for removing bugs and scale. 
ABUTILON. 
These remarkably free-growing green- 
house plants are natives of South America. 
Their handsome drooping flowers are 
produced freely from the young shoots 
through the greater part of the grow- 
ing season. They are at no time clothed 
with the profusion of inflorescence 
that characterises some things that open 
most of their flowers simultaneously, but 
this is amply compensated for by the con- 
tinuity of their production, rendering them 
objects of interest for a good part of the 
year. Most of the greenhouse section are 
of a somewhat straggling yet vigorous habit, 
which makes them especially adapted for 
covering walls or the draping of pillars or 
rafters ; in such situations their beautiful 
pendulous blooms are seen to advantage. 
Their miniature Vine-like foliage is very 
handsome, and in some of the newer 
varieties is beautifully variegated, a good 
part of the surface being profusely marbled 
with yellow. They are plants of very 
easy culture, but the season of their flower- 
ing is much prolonged by their being 
grown where they receive through the 
winter and spring a few degrees more 
heat than the temperature of an ordinary 
greenhouse, such as usually kept up ina 
conservatory where plants in bloom are dis- 
played through the dull season of the 
year; in a situation like this Abutilons 
keep growing and retain their leaves 
better. The flowers are well adapted for 
cutting, their natural drooping habit fitting 
them for associating with others of more 
upright form. The charming white variety, 
Ae 
