MANETTIA, 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 245 
when they should be planted out where 
they are to remain. The border ought to 
be sufficiently drained, and the drainage 
secured from becoming clogged up with 
the soil; this will occur through the action 
of worms, which will assuredly get into it 
unless the crocks are well covered with 
enough fibrous material that will not soon 
decompose. To the want of sufficient 
provision of this kind may be attributed 
the frequent non-success with climbers that 
are not of an over-vigorous habit. The 
soil in conservatory borders is, owing to 
the position in which it is placed, in a 
great measure out of the reach of sun and 
air, and generally has numbers of plants 
in pots standing upon it, with the water 
from them continually descending into it. 
The necessity will therefore at once be 
apparent of taking all possible care in 
making these borders, to use such materials, 
and so put them together, as to secure their 
keeping in an open porous condition. For 
this and similar growing plants one-sixth 
~ of charcoal, broken about the size of Horse 
Chestnuts will much increase the porosity 
of the soil; let the peat be of the best 
fibrous description, use it in a lumpy 
state, and in addition to the charcoal add 
one-sixth of coarse sand; the border, in- 
dependent of the drainage, should be 9 or 
10 inches deep. In planting, spread the 
roots well out, and do not cover them too 
deep—about 4 inches will be enough ; give 
as much water as will keep the soil in a 
healthy condition, but not more. The 
shoots should at once be trained to the 
wires, and run up to the roof without any 
attempt to induce them to break out, as it 
is from the roof that the flowers, to be 
effective, should be produced. Nothing 
more will be required than attention to 
training, giving water to the roots, and 
constant daily use of the syringe during 
the growing season. When the plants 
have filled their allotted space whatever 
cutting-in is found requisite should be 
done each winter, but do not to this 
Mandevilla use the knife any more than is 
necessary. In the course of two or three 
years, if the soil shows signs of getting 
exhausted, remove 2 or 3 inches in the 
spring, replace it with new, and assist the 
plants through the growing season with 
manure-water. 
Insects.—This plant is liable to red 
spider, butif the precautionalready advised, 
of constant use of the syringe during the 
spring and summer is attended to, they 
will never gain a footing. Aphides will 
sometimes make their appearance on the 
young shoots and are best destroyed by 
fumigation. 
MANETTIA. 
These form a small genus of evergreen 
twining plants suitable for growing on the 
roof of a cool stove or intermediate house. 
They are of a comparatively thin habit of 
growth, which well adapts them for draping 
the roof of a house where other things 
growing underneath do not want much 
shade. For this purpose Manettias might 
with advantage be much more grown than 
they are; their small, tube-shaped, bright 
coloured flowers are produced in such 
profusion as to make them very attractive. 
They strike freely in the spring from 
cuttings made of the young shoots in a 
somewhat immature state. These may be 
put in an inch apart round the side of a 5 
or 6 inch pot in sand; if kept close and 
moist, they will soon form roots; after 
being fairly established, move singly into 
3-inch pots in sandy peat. When the 
young plants have got into active growth 
pinch out their points, and place a few 
thin sticks for each to twine round. A 
moderate stove temperature suits them 
best, with a little shade when it is very 
hot; stand them in a light place, and 
syringe overhead daily. Towards the end 
of June give them 7 or 8 inch pots, keeping 
the shoots from getting entangled. It is 
particularly necessary to attend to this 
until placed where they are to remain. 
Treat during the autumn so as to mature 
the growth rather than to encourage 
extension. A temperature of 55° will 
answer through the winter. In the spring 
the plants will require 10 or 12 ineh pots ; 
make the soil moderately firm in potting. 
Those that are to be grown as trained 
specimens will need either wire trellises or 
several sticks inserted just inside the pots ; 
round them the shoots must be regularly 
trained until they have covered the whole, 
after which they may be allowed to ramble 
more freely. Where to be trained to a 
rafter the growths must at first be kept to 
the wires intended to support them till 
these are furnished, and they may be 
allowed more freedom afterwards. So far 
as water, heat, air, and shade are concerned, 
treat them as in the first summer. The 
plants bloom profusely, generally remain- 
ing in flower all through the latter part of 
summer and autumn, after which they 
may be partially cut in, kept cooler and 
drier as before during the winter. Give 
more pot-room in spring, according to the 
extent of space the plants are intended to 
occupy. 
The following two species are deserving 
of cultivation :— 
M. bicolor. Flowers scarlet and yellow, 
