258 glenny's handbook 



ga}' bird, formed of orange and blue, each individual blossom 

 keeping in perfection a considerable time, and being succeeded 

 by others as it decays. Loara and turfy peat form the best 

 compost for it. It may be grown on to a large specimen, 

 filling a large pot or tub, and consisting of so many hearts or 

 crowns that some one or other may be expected to be always 

 in Hower. Tliere is required, however, for all plants a period 

 of rest, and then the Strelitzia should be put in the coolest 

 part of the stove, and have but little water. Whenever the 

 largest-sized pot in which it can be accommodated is filled so 

 close w^ith roots as to starve the plant, it must be turned out, 

 and some of the offsets removed, the mould being shaken 

 out enough to do this conveniently, and the strongest pieces 

 potted again, either singly as small plants, or several together 

 in a pot as large as may be required. If a large mass is still 

 desired, no more need be taken aw^ay than enough to afford 

 space to replant it in the same pot or tub. The offsets so 

 parted must undergo the same treatment, being changed 

 from pot to pot till they arrive at the same perfection. When 

 changed from large pots to tubs the plants get unwieldy, and 

 are only adapted for certain situations, so that in small gardens 

 it is much better to part them. They will live in a greenhouse 

 from which frost is excluded. The best is S. regincB, stove 

 perennial, flowers orange and purple. 



STREPTOCARPUS. [Gesneraceae.] Pretty greenhouse 

 herbaceous perennials. Light rich loamy compost. Seeds in 

 spring in a warm frame. S. Bexii, flowers blue lilac. 



STRUMAPJA. [Amaryllidaceae.] Greenhouse bulbs. 

 Rich loam. Offsets. They require the treatment of Nerine 

 and Amaryllis. 



STRUTHIOPTERIS. [Polypodiacese.] Beautiful hardy 

 ferns. Peat soil. Division. The best is 8. Germanica. 



STYLIDIUM. Stylewort. [Stylidiacese.] Very dis- 

 tinct and pretty-looking plants, for the most part greenhouse 

 perennials. They like a soil of rather sandy peat earth, and, 

 being of small size, do not require veiy large pots. Seeds 

 produce the best young plants : sow as soon as ripe in sandy 

 peat, and keep in the greenhouse. Young shoots taken off, 

 and planted in sand as cuttings, also form healthy young 

 plants. 



