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HOYA. 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
211 
time cuttings are made from the preceding 
summer’s shoots, using two, three, or more 
joints, and they are inserted singly in 
3-inch pots in half loam and sand, they 
will root in a few weeks placed in a tem- 
perature of 70°. They need not be kept 
nearly so close as things with softer leaves, 
that would flag if not in a confined damp 
atmosphere. When well rooted, move 
them into 6-inch pots. They will grow in 
almost any description of soil, but loam is 
the most suitable, as it is not so liable to 
get sour as peat is ; it should be of a turfy 
nature, and have a liberal quantity of sand 
added, for although the plants are anything 
but of a tender character, still if the soil ever 
gets in a condition that the water cannot 
pass freely from it the roots are almost sure 
to perish. Through the summer the night 
temperature should be about 70°, with 10° 
more in the day, giving air according to 
- the state of the weather. Reduce the heat 
in autumn, and through the winter 60° by 
night will do, keeping the plants drier at 
the roots.~ About the end of February 
give more warmth, and move into pots a 
few inches larger, according to the strength 
of the different species. Increase the heat 
as the season goes on. They will flower 
more or less during the summer, but not 
so as to make the display that may be 
looked for when they have acquired more 
size. As soon as the blooms begin to show 
on the ends of the spurs, cease syringing 
overhead, as water sometimes causes 
the young buds to drop before opening. 
As a matter of course they will now be 
placed where they are intended to grow, 
which may be over a path, up a rafter, or 
round a pillar; they can likewise be used 
as trained specimens when required. 
However employed, they are better in pots 
than planted out. All that is further 
needed is to give more pot-room as this is 
wanted, and to treat through the winter 
and summer as already advised. The 
plants will last for many years. 
H. bella and H. Paxtonii are small- 
growing shrubby plants of a half procum- 
bent habit, and their beautiful pearly 
white and pink flowers are produced freely 
in the spring and summer; they strike 
readily in spring from cuttings made of the 
points of the shoots, consisting of several 
joints, treated like the other sorts. These 
do not require large pots—such as are 10 
or 12 inches in diameter will be found big 
enough for most purposes. Like all the 
species, they must have plenty of light 
when growing, and not too much moisture 
either in the atmosphere or at the root. 
When flowering they require to be sup- 
ported by a moderate number of neat 
sticks, otherwise the branches will lie 
quite flat, but they should by no means be 
subjected to the stiff, formal training some- 
times seen by placing them on trellises, as 
it completely destroys the elegant ap- 
pearance the plants have when allowed to 
assume more of their natural form. The 
pots wherein these two kinds are grown 
must be well drained ; they like a mode- 
rate quantity of water both to the roots 
and overhead when growing, but must not 
receive too much in the winter. They 
will bear the shoots shortening in mode- 
rately after flowering, when the growth 
has got larger than is requisite. They 
should be kept in a temperature of 60° 
when at rest during the winter. Both 
these sorts are peculiarly adapted for 
growing in 8 or 10 inch pots suspended 
from the roof over the paths in the stove, 
where there is sufficient head-room ; the 
flowers in such a position are very effective. 
These two kinds may be used freely for 
cutting, as they yearly produce a profusion 
of bloom-spurs. Their delicate-coloured 
flowers have a charming effect when mixed 
with almost anything else. 
The following are likewise desirable 
sorts, that will succeed under similar 
treatment :— 
H. globulosa. This has thick leathery 
foliage, of moderate size ; the flowers are 
straw-coloured, produced freely. It has 
the appearance of being a handsome, 
distinct kind. India. 
H. lasiantha. Flowers pale orange and 
white ; foliage bold and handsome. From 
Borneo. 
H. linearis. A distinct new species, 
with slender branches and long, narrow 
leaves. Flowers produced at the points of 
the shoots, white, with pink centre. <A 
suitable plant for a hanging basket. From 
the Himalaya. 
H. pallidiflora. Is a small-growing 
species, with white flowers. Java. 
H. Shepherd. A distinct-habited plant, 
with stout foliage ; the flowers are suffused 
with rose. A native of India. 
Insects.—Thrips and red spider will 
sometimes make their appearance upon 
them, especially if the atmosphere is kept 
very dry for a considerable time during 
the growing season ; but a weak solution 
of insecticide will be found an effectual 
cure. Scale and mealy bug must be kept 
under by syringing with stronger applica- 
tions of insecticide when at rest, but it 
should be kept away from the roots. In 
the growing season syringe with clean 
warm water and sponge the leaves and 
shoots. 
