236 
Greenhouse and Stove Plunts. 
LIBONIA, 
on account of their soft nature are difficul* 
to clean. If the insect gets into the points 
of the shoots after the flowers are set, it 
will in a very few days destroy them. 
When affected with this insect the plants 
must be fumigated. It is also much sub- 
ject to mildew, which is almost imper- 
ceptible upon it, and not seen until the 
leaves begin to fall off through its effects. 
Sulphur is the best remedy, dusted all 
over, but the parasite is most generally 
produced by too low a temperature during 
the winter months—it should never be 
allowed to fall lower than already in- 
<licated. 
L. formosa has scarlet flowers, which it 
opens freely almost all the year round. 
This is a desirable plant, and deserves 
more general cultivation than it now 
receives ; it is a smaller grower, easier to 
manage, and longer-lived than L. biloba : 
it will in the winter bear keeping cooler, 
but does much better with a temperature 
similar to that advised for the blue variety. 
It is more procumbent in habit, and a 
much slower grower, and requires some- 
what different treatment; it is a finer 
rooted plant, but is not so impatient of its 
roots being touched, consequently when 
potted it should have the crocks removed. 
The soil should be similar in every way to 
that already recommended for L. biloba, 
except that it will be benefited by the 
addition of a sprinkling of broken crocks, 
about the size of horse beans. It is a free- 
rooting subject, and requires more pot- 
room than its size would lead one to 
suppose. It does not need much tying to 
support it, and very little pinching of the 
shoots, as it is naturally a compact branch- 
ing plant. To induce it to get on while 
young, the flowers should be picked out 
regularly as they are formed. So free of 
flowering is it that a newly-struck cutting 
will bloom. In other respects its cultural 
requirements are the same as for L. biloba. 
Like the last-named variety it is subject to 
the attacks of aphides, for which it should 
be treated in a similar manner. 
L. Baxteri major and L. intermedia, 
bearing orange flowers, are very free 
growers, similar in habit and in the general 
treatment they require ; they are profuse 
bloomers, and equally deserving of cultiva- 
tion, especially for purposes of general 
decoration. 
LEUCADENDRON ARGENTEUM. 
This is the only species among a con- 
siderable number included in the genus, 
that finds any favour with cultivators. It 
is the Witteboom or Silver tree of the 
Cape ; it grows to a good size, reaching a 
height of 10 or 12 feet, but is pretty ina 
small state, to which it can be kept for a 
considerable time under pot-culture. The 
leaves are silvery-white both on the upper 
and under surface. It will thrive under 
treatment such as advised for Rhopalas, 
which see. A native of the Cape of 
Good Hope. 
LEUCOPOGON. 
These are evergreen greenhouse shrubs 
with neat habit of growth ; but although in 
common with most plants from the same 
countries they flower freely, they are not 
sufficiently effective to be rated at more 
than secondary value for decorative pur- 
poses. They thrive under like conditions 
to those advised for Epacris, which see. 
The most desirable are :— 
L. Cunninghamu. White. 
bloomer. Australia. 
L. juniperinus. Flowers white, produced 
in summer. A native of New South 
A summer 
Wales. 
L. Richei. White; also a summer 
bloomer. From New Holland. 
LIBONIA FLORIBUNDA. 
In this we have a small, compact-growing, 
softwooded plant that bears a profusion of 
tube-shaped flowers, dull red and orange 
in colour. Its free-flowering disposition 
makes it useful for greenhouse decoration, 
especially in the autumn months. 
Cuttings of the soft young shoots should 
be struck in March, put several together in 
small pots filled with sand, and stood in 
a temperature of 60°. Kept moist and 
shaded, they will root in a fortnight, when 
move singly into 3-inch pots in loam, to 
which add some leaf-mould and sand. 
Stop the shoots and keep in a temperature 
similar to that in which the cuttings were 
struck until a little later in the spring, 
when they have begun to grow freely, after 
which less heat will suffice. Give a mode- 
rate amount of air, with a little shade in 
sunny weather, syringe overhead daily, 
and supply water to the roots, as required 
by other quick-growing plants of a like 
description. In two months from the first 
potting enough progress should have been 
made to admit of the plants being moved 
to 6 or 7 inch pots, which in most cases 
will be found big enough to flower them 
in ; now mix some rotten manure with the 
soil, again stop the points of the shoots, 
and continue to treat as before. As the 
pots get filled with roots and the plants 
come into bloom give manure-water, which 
