TO THE FLOWEE GAEDEN. 199 



abundantly. There is no annual so useful as N. insir/nis if 

 kept in sixtv-sized pots, or even smaller, one in a pot : it 

 makes a bright speck in any vacant place in a border or bed, 

 and is never out of place. 



NEOTTIA. [Orchidaceae.] A genus containing some 

 hardy perennial as well as tender species. Soil, peat and 

 loam. Increased by division. N. cestivalis, N. autumnalta, 

 and N. ceniua are worth growing as curiosities. 



NEOTTOPTERIS. [Polypodiacete.] Stove ferns of ever- 

 green habit, of which, however, one species will succeed in a 

 cool house if not over- watered in winter. Turfy peat. In- 

 creased by division or by spores. N. vulgaris is also known 

 as Asplenium nidus. 



NEPENTHES. Pitcher Plant. [Nepenthacese.] A 

 most extraordinary race of plants, whose peculiarity lies in 

 the organs called pitchers, from which the plants derive their 

 name. The plants are shrubby, and the leaves have a most 

 extraordinary appendage at the end of each, in the form of a 

 complete pitcher with a lid to it, which opens and shuts at 

 the pleasure of the plant, if we can imagine a plan^ to have a 

 will of its own. This pitcher is partially tilled with a liquid 

 distilled from the plant. The flowers are inconsiderable, and 

 form no part of their claim as ornamental subjects. They 

 require the stove, and grow well in turfy peat soil, mixed with 

 sphagnum, as used for orchids. If not grown too rapidly 

 they form handsome pyramidal objects. They should not be 

 often repotted, but strong young plants should be put at once 

 into pots that will admit of a considerable growth. IMany 

 very noble specimens have been sacrificed by having been 

 forced too much at the root, and have gone off in conse- 

 quence. Formerly N. distillatoria was the most striking plant 

 of this race known in cultivation, but the last few years have 

 added several others which are certainly handsomer. (3f these, 

 N. Rajflesiana, which has very large pitchers, spotted and 

 blotched with crimson ; N. sanguinea, also marked with crim- 

 son ; and N. alho-marginata, which has a band of white wool 

 round the edge of the pitcher, and is smaller than the others, 

 are some of the most interesting. 



NEPHPtODIUM. [Polypodiacese.j K large genus of 

 ferns, mostly tropical, but comprising a few which thrive in a 



