38 THE CULTURE OF POT-PLANTS 



of a pot than in the centre, because air is necessary for their 

 development and, of course, more of it reaches them there, 

 as also more water. When growth commences, the young 

 plants can be taken up with as much soil as possible adhering 

 to the roots, and potted separately. Campanulas are not 

 troubled by many pests. A fungoid disease sometimes 

 causes black spots in radiating lines on the foliage, and 

 certain mites, too small to be seen with the naked eye, 

 distort the inflorescences of some species and prevent their 

 colouring. For the former, the plants should be sprayed 

 with a weak solution of permanganate of potash (the water 

 only just tinged), and for the latter, with some good insecticide. 



Chrysanthemum frutescens (Marguerite or Paris 

 Daisy). — A very useful species, because its yellow or white 

 flowers are freely produced throughout the season. Plenty 

 of water is necessary, and also, to keep the plants growing 

 and flowering, plenty of food. Their habit is shrubby, but 

 as they deteriorate after the first year, it is usual to propagate 

 them annually. With this object they should be cut back 

 after flowering, and the young shoots which start up from 

 the base should be used as cuttings. Seeds may also be 

 sown in the greenhouse in early spring. White sinuous 

 marks on the leaves are often caused by the burrowings of 

 a small maggot, the larva of a fly which also attacks Japanese 

 chrysanthemums. Injured leaves should be taken off and 

 burned. Spraying with a decoction of quassia chips will 

 Iceep the flies away from the plants. 



Cineraria. — There are a number of varieties — large 

 flowered, cactus, and star — of many difterent colours. They 

 flower so profusely that they are among the most popular of 

 pot-plants. They are not diflficult to grow from seed in a 

 greenhouse, but anybody who has only a room for them had 

 better get established plants. Though they do not require 

 artificial heat, or at least only sufflcient to protect them from 

 frost, it is necessary to keep them growing steadily all the 

 time. If growth is checked at any stage, whether by too 

 much or too little moisture, too much or too little food, too 

 much or too little heat, or by any other cause, they are 



