STOVE, OR TROPICAL HOUSE VINES 153 
primarily as a vine to cover some part of the 
house, the longer growths are retained, or at 
least only lightly pruned. 
The allamanda demands a well-enriched border, 
where it will never feel the need of food. A 
good plan is to put a fresh mulch on the ground 
when the vine is pruned each season. I use 
almost pure cow manure for this purpose. Liquid 
manure may be used to supplement this, and can 
be given in connection with the mulching. There 
is no danger of getting the soil too rich if other 
conditions are right. This plant also requires 
abundant heat and moisture, and the temper- 
ature of the house should never be allowed _to fall 
below 60° when the plant is in growth. The nearer 
it is kept to 70° the better the plant will grow. 
Syringing should be given at least twice on 
bright days. This serves a double purpose; 
namely, supplying the plant with moisture, and 
helping to keep the mealy bug in check. This 
pest is the one great enemy of the allamanda, for 
which it appears to have an inordinate fondness. 
During winter, when a rest may be given, the 
temperature can be let fall as low as 50° (but not 
any lower), and the water supply at the roots 
reduced considerably, giving just enough water 
to keep the plant alive. My own plants donot 
