CUPANTA. 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
131 
reason that it is not advisable to stop these 
plants in the summer, as prescribed in the 
cultivation of most hardwooded subjects, 
is that if pinched back nothing is gained, 
as it rarely has the effect of causing shoots 
to break out several from each, as in the 
case of most things, but simply stops 
erowth altogether for the season, and 
hastens their flowering. Where there is 
not the convenience of a house in which 
they can receive a little heat early, as 
above described, all the difference in their 
treatment required is to pot them later, 
about April, with the other hardwooded 
greenhouse plants, and treat through the 
summer as before advised, but by the latter 
method they cannot be expected to make 
so much growth, nor flower so early. 
When they come into bloom they will 
make nice little plants for standing on 
front shelves or in any prominent position. 
When their blooming is over, remove 
the plants to where they will receive 
ordinary greenhouse treatment as to tem- 
perature, air, and water, cutting them back 
as in the preceding season so as to reduce 
the shoots to 6 or 8 inches in length from 
the point they were shortened to the year 
before, and again starting them in a little 
heat as previously, or if a succession of 
bloom is required, a portion of the stock 
may be allowed to commence their growth 
later on in the greenhouse. This year 
they will bear a 3-inch shift, using the 
soil in a little more lumpy state, and 
keeping the strongest shoots well tied out, 
so as to clothe the base of the plants, 
treating them through the season as here- 
tofore. The treatment required during 
subsequent years will be similar in every 
way, always cutting the shoots well back 
before growth begins, or a sufliciently 
dense, bushy condition will not be main- 
tained. It is not necessary to increase the 
size of pot beyond 15 inches in diameter, 
as this will be big enough for full-sized 
specimens. After the plants have been in 
pots of this size for a year or two they 
should be regularly supplied with manure- 
water through the growing season. In this 
way Croweas may be kept for years in a 
thriving, healthy state. 
The following varieties are all worth 
growing :— 
C. elliptica. A free-growing variety, and 
equally free in flowering ; has elliptic- 
shaped leaves. 
C. latifolia. As its name implies, a 
broad-leaved kind, with large flowers of 
great substance. 
C. saligna major. A large-flowered form 
of the Willow-leaved C. saligna, and much 
superior to the old variety. 
C. stricta. An equally desirable sort, 
the habit of the plant more upright than 
the others. 
InsEcts.—Croweas are not much subject 
to the attacks of insects; greenfly will 
sometimes affect them, but can be easily 
killed, the nature of the plants being such 
as to bear without injury a strong applica- 
tion of tobacco smoke. The use of the 
syringe to promote growth during the 
early part of the season prevents their 
suffering through red spider. Brown 
scale is troublesome if it gets upon them, 
but can be destroyed by strong applications 
of insecticide when the plants are at rest 
in the winter. Should white scale get 
upon them there is not much chance of 
eradicating it thoroughly, as it requires a 
stronger dressing of insecticide than the 
leaves will bear. 
CUPANIA. 
Since handsome-leaved plants became so 
popular for cultivation under glass many 
stove species have been used that grow natu- 
rally to a size such as would preclude the 
possibility of their being accommodated in 
ordinary sized structures when they have 
attained their full stature, but by confining 
their roots in pots and heading them 
down at intervals they can be kept within 
bounds. Of this description are the 
Cupanias ; the best and most suitable for 
cultivation is C. filicifolia, a West Indian 
species that, in its native country, grows to 
a height of 15 or 20 feet. Its beautiful 
green, finely-cut Fern-like leaves are 
unsurpassed for their elegant plume-like 
appearance. The plant is one of those that 
should always be confined to a single stem ; 
if more are permitted to grow much of its 
elegance is wanting. It is easily grown 
with enough warmth at command, a de- 
sideratum which its native country at once 
suggests. 
It may be increased at any time of the 
year, when cuttings composed of the young 
shoots 5 or 6 inches long can be taken off 
with a heel, such as are obtainable from a 
plant that has been headed back; they 
will root in sandy loam in a brisk heat 
with a confined moist atmosphere, and 
shaded from the sun, so as to prevent their 
flagging. When well-rooted gradually 
inure them to the air of the house, which 
keep at an ordinary stove temperature. 
Let them be where they will have abun- 
dance of light and enough air at suitable 
times to keep them stout and short. This 
is necessary with plants like this, that are 
not to be stopped and grown in bush 
form, the object being to get them to make 
