YUCCA, 
lead pinch out the point as before advised. 
The summer management, as also that for 
the ensuing autumn and winter, will need 
to be in every way as before, and they 
should be again moved towards the begin- 
ning of April into pots 2 inches larger than 
those they have occupied. Use plenty of 
drainage, as all slow-growing subjects like 
this are very impatient of stagnant water at 
the roots ; pot moderately firm, and do not 
give much water until the roots have begun 
to enter the new soil. Keep the atmo- 
sphere a little close for a short time, and 
shade slightly during bright sunny weather 
all through the growing season, for if too 
much exposed the leaves are apt to suffer 
and turn brown at the points, and the 
plant is given an unsightly appearance. 
The naturally stout erect habit is such that 
they do not require or admit of much 
training, except Just opening out the prin- 
cipal branches, which should in this way be 
secured to a few neat sticks; nor after 
this stage has been reached can much be 
done in the way of pinching back the shoots 
as they branch out naturally, further than 
eutting back any that are unduly taking 
the lead. Growth will be accelerated by 
closing the house through the growing sea- 
son in the afternoons while the sun is yet 
upon the glass, and slightly damping the 
plants overhead, as well as keeping the at- 
mosphere and stage upon which they stand 
a little moist. 
The treatment which is required during 
the growing season will be of a uniform 
character, as above described, but towards 
autumn discontinue the use of the syringe 
and shading; admit more air to discourage 
growth before winter. Nothing is neces- 
sary in the shape of hardening up the 
plants, as this Witsenia is not subject to 
the attacks of mildew consequent on in- 
sufficiently matured shoots. Keep through 
the winter in an ordinary greenhouse tem- 
perature in a moderately light situation, 
and give no more water that is requisite to 
prevent the soil getting too dry. Repot in 
April, giving a 2 or 3 inch shift, according 
to the quantity of roots the plants have 
got, again shortening any shoots that may 
be outgrowing the others; this should be 
attended to from time to time as requisite, 
and none should be allowed to take the 
lead too much, as that would entail a waste 
of strength. Treat through the summer 
as in the season before. This autumn they 
will, if all goes well, bloom from the prin- 
cipal shoots. When in flower they can be 
used for conservatory decoration, and after- 
wards removed to the greenhouse for the 
winter. Repot again in spring, using the 
soil in a little rougher state now that the 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
345 
plants are larger. Continue to treat as 
heretofore advised, both in the growing 
season and when at rest ; a 14-inch pot is 
big enough to grow them in when arrived 
at their full size. They will last for a 
number of years without repotting if 
manure-water is used once a week during 
the growing season, but the drainage 
should each spring be examined, as if it 
gets clogged up with soil the health of the 
plants speedily suffer. 
Insects.—This Witsenia is not usually 
much troubled with insects, its hard leaves 
not affording much sustenance to the gene- 
rality of plant pests. The use of the syringe 
during the growing season will keep in 
check red spider, which sometimes makes 
its appearance. Scale, both white and 
brown, will live on it ; the white species 
will, if it once gets a footing, increase 
apace, and from the nature of the plant 
cannot well be destroyed by any of the 
usual liquid dressings, as the leaves will 
not bear such used in sufficient strength to 
kill the insect, which can only be removed 
by sponge and brush; these in like manner 
can be used for the removal of brown scale, 
which, however, does not increase rapidly 
on this plant. 
WOODWARDIA. 
This genus of Ferns contains greenhouse 
and hardy species ; some of the former are 
noble plants when room enough is given 
them to attain their full size. W. radicans 
reaches a size of 10 to 12 feet across when 
planted out in a Fernery under favourable 
conditions, its finely arched massive fronds 
having few equals. 
For propagation and cultivation, see 
Ferns, general details of culture. 
GREENHOUSE SPECIES. 
W. ortentalis. Japan. 
W. radicans. Madeira. 
W. radicans cristata. 
YUCCA. 
The greenhouse species of Yucca are 
desirable plants, grown for their handsome 
and singular foliage. They are suitable 
for intermixing with flowering plants in 
greenhouses, conservatories, or rooms, the 
persistent character of their leaves being 
such as to enable them to bear for a con- 
siderable time positions where things of a 
less enduring habit would suffer. 
They are increased by suckers from the 
roots, or by pieces of the stems which, when 
they get old and denuded of leaves, may 
be cut into pieces a couple of inches long, 
containing two or three eyes. Insert 
