130 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
CROWEA. 
and scale both affect them ; these can be 
destroyed by dipping in or syringing with 
a strong solution of insecticide. 
CROWEA. 
These belong to a limited family of ever- 
green greenhouse plants, introduced from 
New South Wales, that are of comparatively 
small, bushy habit of growth, producing 
their lively dark pink star-shaped flowers, 
for two or three months in succession 
through the autumn, at a time when 
greenhouse-flowering subjects are few. 
Croweas have many things to recommend 
them to the general cultivator, not the 
least of which is their easy growth and 
adaptability for decorative purposes, espe- 
cially for the conservatory, where by regu- 
lating the time that they commence grow- 
ing a succession of the plants may be had 
so as to have some in flower from the com- 
mencement of August, to be succeeded by 
others that will keep on until after the 
close of the year. They will also bear, 
whilst in bloom, placing in a confined 
situation in conservatories or similar places 
much better than most hardwooded sub- 
jects ; they likewise have the property of 
flowering freely in a very small state. 
Plants the first year grown from the usual 
nursery-sized stock will just bloom as 
plentifully in proportion to their size as 
when older. When they get large and are 
well-managed, they are useful for exhibi- 
tion, if required for this purpose, the nature 
of the flowers being such that they will 
bear a deal of knocking about without 
being bruised or disfigured. They make 
moderately strong roots, that are not at 
all delicate or liable to injury from 
causes that would result in the death of 
more tender things ; yet they do not form 
them in such large quantities as to need so 
much pot-room as many plants. All the 
kinds will grow in loam, and in it, when 
of a good description, the colour of the 
flowers is often a little higher ; but in peat 
they generally make quicker progress, and 
where the latter can be had of a fair 
character, we should recommend it in pre- 
ference to loam, using about one sixth or 
seventh of clean sharp sand intermixed. 
Although the Croweas do not require 
anything above a cool greenhouse tempera- 
ture to grow them, they are amongst a 
certain number of plants that will bear and 
make much more progress by having 
their growing season lengthened through 
being started in a little warmth in the 
winter. Their time of flowering can also 
be regulated by this. Plants that are thus 
started into growth in slight heat in 
February will bloom early in August if 
required, to be succeeded by others, the 
growth of which commenced with the 
advance of the season. Where there is the 
means of submitting them to a temperature 
of 50° in the night, with a rise of 8° or 10° 
by day, about February, we should advise 
the young stock to be so started at that 
time. 
Croweas strike readily from cuttings 
which should be procured about April from 
plants that have started in an intermediate 
temperature in February ; put them several 
together in 5 or 6 inch pots in sand, sub- 
jecting them now to an ordinary stove 
temperature, with shade and a moist, con- 
fined atmosphere ; here they will root in 
six or eight weeks, when give more air and 
light. As soon as they are fully rooted move 
singly to small pots, stopping the points 
and continuing the warm, moderately close 
treatment through the summerand autumn, 
keeping on in the winter in a night tem- 
perature of about 50°. In March the 
young plants should have made enough 
progress to admit of their being moved 
into 4 or 5 inch pots, stopping each shoot ; 
through the spring and summer give a 
little more warmth than usual for the 
generality of greenhouse plants, standing 
them on a moist bottom, with plenty: of 
light and a little shade in very bright 
weather, giving a dash with the syringe 
every afternoon. Winter as before, and 
about the commencement of the year cut 
in the whole of the preceding summer’s 
growth, leaving the shoots about 6 inches 
long from the point where they were 
shortened to the previous season ; tie them 
out in a horizontal position, and about.the 
time and in the temperature above advised 
place them where they will receive a fair 
amount of light, slightly damping them 
overhead with the syringe once a day ; 
here they will soon commence growth and 
be in a condition for potting. They will 
require a 2-inch shift, with a fair quantity 
of drainage, using the soil in a moderately 
lumpy state, and pressing it solid in the 
pots. Replace the plants in a similar 
temperature to that they have been in, and 
here let them remain until the beginning 
of May, when there will be enough solar 
heat to keep them on growing without the 
assistance of fire ; after this, they will do 
along with other ordinary hardwooded 
stock, requiring like treatment through 
the summer as to air, syringing overhead, 
and closing the house or pit they occupy 
with the sun upon it in the afternoon. 
They will not need any stopping of the 
shoots, except such as happen to grow 
considerably stronger than the rest. The 
