274 
Quercifolium. 
Quercifolium minus. 
HYBRIDS OF THE UNIQUE TYPE. 
Conspicuum. 
Crimson Unique. 
Mrs. Kingsbury. 
Rollisson’s Unique. 
CAPE SPECIES AND VARIETIES. 
Ardens. 
Blandfordianum. 
Echinatum. 
Erectum. 
Little Gem. 
Madame Gewitzki. 
Rosy Morn. 
Semperflorens. 
Semperflorens Spotted Gem. 
Sidonianum. 
Insects.—All Pelargoniums, excepting 
Zonals and their allied kinds, are particu- 
larly liable to the attacks of aphides ; few 
other insects trouble them. Timely fumiga- 
tion with tobacco is the best means of keep- 
ing them free from these pests, which, if let 
to get to any considerable head, do serious 
mischief. It is necessary to be particularly 
careful in seeing that the plants are quite 
clear of the insects before coming into 
bloom, as if fumigation has to be resorted 
to after the flowers are open, it is sure to 
cause their falling off prematurely. 
PENTAS. 
The two species of Pentas, P. carnea and 
P. kermesina, are both softwooded shrubs 
of small growth, producing very freely 
their delicate flesh-coloured flowers, which 
appear in medium-sized bunches at the 
points of the shoots. They are natives of 
Africa, and need a moderate stove tempera- 
ture, in which, with little care, they thrive 
well. They may be easily increased at 
any time of the year from cuttings of the 
half-matured shoots whenever these can be 
had ; if the propagation is begun in spring, 
say the middle of April, at which time 
suitable cuttings will be forthcoming, com- 
posed of three or four joints of the terminal 
ends of the shoots, put three or four to- 
gether in 4-inch or 5-inch pots in sand, 
keep them moist and covered with a pro- 
pagating glass in moderate heat, and shaded 
when it is sunny; here they will root in 
three or four weeks, after which gradually 
remove the glasses, and when the cuttings 
have got inured to the full air of the house, 
move them separately into 3-inch pots 
filled with sandy loam and a little leaf- 
mould ; keep the soil moderately moist, 
and shade slightly when the sun is 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
PEPEROMIA, 
powerful. As soon as they begin to grow 
pinch out the points of the growths ; this 
should be repeated two or three times 
during the summer ; tie the branches out 
horizontally, which will cause them to 
form a number of shoots. By the middle 
of July move them into 6-inch or 7-inch 
pots ; they are free rooters, and will bear 
a liberal shift such as this. Stand them in 
a light place and give room enough, so that 
they may not be overhung by taller-grow- 
ing things which are often allowed to 
seriously injure low growers like these, 
and so prevent them from blooming as 
they otherwise would. When well man- 
aged, they will keep on flowering almost 
continuously as growth is made, but they 
are more useful in the autumn, until which 
time it will be well to keep the flowers 
picked off. 
Liquid manure will help them when the 
pots get full of roots ; let them have all 
the light available through the autumn, for 
on this depends to a great extent the 
amount of bloom they will make. After 
the flowers are removed from the points of 
the shoots, if the wood has been grown 
under conditions that ensure its being well 
matured, the joints below will push growth, 
which will form flower-heads that will 
open in succession. The blooms are dis- 
tinct and very useful for cutting. When 
the short days of winter arrive keep the 
plants drier at the roots, but not so as to 
cause them to flag ; a temperature of 60° 
will suit them through the dormant season. 
Just before growth begins in spring cut 
back the shoots well, and as soon as they 
have broken turn them out, remove part 
of the old soil, and give them pots 1 inch 
or 2 inches larger, treating as through the 
preceding summer. It is better now to cut 
the flowers for use as they open, as it will 
keep the plants compact. The old examples 
may be kept on, managed as already ad- 
vised by renewing the soil, or young ones 
can always be had coming on to take their 
place. P. rosea is also a desirable kind 
that will succeed under similar treatment. 
It has rose-coloured flowers. From Africa. 
InsEcts.—Pentas are not usually much 
affected with insects, but should any of - 
those that infest stove plants make their 
appearance, use the syringe and sponge. 
PEPEROMIA. 
In these we have an interesting set of 
small-growing stove fine-leaved plants of a 
soft fleshy texture, both as regards leaves 
and stems. Some of the weaker-growing, 
trailing-habited species are well adapted 
for hanging baskets ; they are all suitable 
