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weeks ; after which they can be removed 
to the greenhouse, and wintered as pre- 
viously. It will be advisable at this time 
to go over them and shorten their shoots 
back, as this will be better done now, when 
the plants have attained some size, than in 
the spring as heretofore. Give them 
another shift about the time advised the 
preceding seasons ; they should again have 
pots 3 inches larger, and be treated in 
every way as hitherto recommended as to 
potting, syringing overhead, and water at 
the roots; by the time of flowering they 
will have got to a useful size, and be found 
attractive. 
This Mitraria, from the free but some- 
what weak habit of the shoots, requires 
cutting back after flowering to within 6 or 
8 inches of the point whence the previous 
season’s growth has commenced. Fourteen 
or 15 inch pots are large enough to grow 
even the largest plants in, as after they get 
into that size they may be kept in a free 
healthy condition by the use of manure- 
water during the growing season. 
Insects.—The plant is sometimes af- 
fected with red spider, but if the syringing 
advised whilst in active growth is attended 
to, it will be kept in check. Should black 
thrips make its appearance fumigate with 
tobacco, or syringe freely overhead with 
tobacco-water. 
MOHRIA THURIFRAGA. 
A distinct-looking greenhouse Fern, with 
pretty habit of growth. From the Mascaren 
Islands. For propagation and cultivation, 
see Ferns, general details of culture. 
MONOCHATUM. 
Pretty, free-flowering, evergreen, warm 
greenhouse plants, that can be grown up 
from cuttings in a single season to a 
blooming condition. 
They strike readily from shoot cuttings 
in spring, treated in their early stages in 
the way advised for Linums (which see), 
except that peat should be used in place of 
loam, and that the Monochetums, not 
being so much subject to red spider, do 
not require more syringing overhead than 
is needful to promote growth. They 
flower in the autumn. 
The following are worth growing :— 
M. ensiferum. Flowers pink. From 
Oaxaca. 
M. Humboldtiz. Rose colour. <A native 
of the Caraccas. 
M. Lemonianum. Reddish-purple. 
M. sericeum multiflorum. Mauve. 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
MUSA. 
MURALTIA. 
A genus of dwarf-growing evergreen 
greenhouse shrubs. They are nearly allied 
to Polygalas, but the flowers are smaller, 
and they are not equal to the above-named 
plants for decorative use. 
Their propagation and after treatment 
are such as advised for Polygalas, which 
see. 
M. filiformis (syn.: Polygala filiformis). 
Flowers purple, produced in summer and 
autumn. From the Cape of Good Hope. 
M. Heisteria (syn.: Polygala Heisteria). 
A purple-flowered species that usually 
blooms in winter. A native of the Cape 
of Good Hope. 
P. humilis (syn.: Polygala humilis). 
This also bears purple flowers in summer. 
It comes from the Cape of Good Hope. 
MUSA. 
The Musas may be classed among the 
most stately and distinct of all fine-leaved 
stove plants. They are quick growers, and 
always effective where sufficient room can 
be given to allow of their large leaves 
attaining their full dimensions ; and where 
there is not space enough to admit of this, 
their cultivation should not be attempted. 
In addition to their attractive appearance, 
valuable fruits are produced by at least two 
of the genus. They are free and quick 
growers and readily propagated from 
suckers, which the plants when strong 
produce freely ; if these are separated with 
some roots from the old plants and at once 
put in pots that will admit them, with a 
moderate quantity of soil, and placed in a 
temperature of from 65° to 70°, they will 
erow away without delay. Good fresh 
loam with a little sand answers for them, 
and if some bone-dust is added, all the 
better. If the suckers are put in as 
above advised early in the spring, they 
will make rapid growth, and very soon 
require larger pots if they are to be grown 
in pots ; this, for ordinary decorative pur- 
poses, is the most convenient way, as it 
admits of the plants being moved about 
where required, but if cultivated with a 
view to the production of fruit, such as 
borne by M. Cavendishii, they will succeed 
much better planted out where their roots 
will have more space. In this case, how- 
ever, their treatment in other respects need 
not be in any way different from that 
required when grown in pots or large tubs. 
Increase the heat as the sun gets more 
power. They will bear through the 
summer as high a temperature as most 
plants in cultivation, with plenty of water 
