14 



Greunlioasa anl t'Stuca Plaiita 



ABUTILOX. 



the progress it has made ; such as are 4 

 inches to 6 inches in diameter Avill most 

 likely be found large enough. Soil a 

 little heavier than that in which they 

 were started should be used, the drainage 

 made secure and the soil pressed firm. 

 Increase the heat as the days lengthen, 

 give air and shade as required, with 

 plenty of water to the roots, and syringe 

 freely overhead daily. Treat generally as 

 advised for the preceding summer, and 

 alike similarly through the ^^'inter ; again 

 give more root-room about February, 

 shifting them into pots from 2 inches to 4 

 inches larger as the plants seem to require 

 more or less room. Do not let the roots 

 get cramped at this early stage, except in 

 the case of such as are required for use in 

 a miniatme state. 



For decorative pui-poses in a larger 

 state, it wU usually be found adAdsable to 

 grow the different kinds on to a height of 

 3 feet or 4 feet with as little delay as 

 possible ; consequently, until that or some- 

 thing of a like size has been attained it will 

 be well to treat them to as much root-ioom 

 as A\dll in this way assist free growth. All 

 that is required afteiwards is to continue 

 the treatment hitherto advised summer 

 and winter, regulating the size of the pots 

 .according to the size the plants are desired 

 to be gi'own to. Most of the smaller grow- 

 ing kinds can be kept in a healthy state 

 for years in pots from 10 inches to 18 

 inches in diameter, but when so restricted 

 they must have manui-e water once or 

 twice a week through the gro-s\dng season, 

 or the leaves will most likely be deficient 

 in that healthy green colour which adds 

 so materially to their appearance. Many 

 of the stove species will bear standing in a 

 warm conservatory for a time during the 

 summer season, and so used will be found 

 very attractive, but they should be returned 

 to warmer quarters as the weather gets 

 cooler. Care ought always to be taken 

 that they have enough shade in bright 

 weather to prevent the leaves being dis- 

 figured, for, if scorched with the sun, it 

 takes a considerable time to admit of their 

 regaining their wonted appearance— only 

 possible by reclothing with new leaves. 



The species of Palms that \n\\ suc- 

 ceed all the year round with greenhouse 

 treatment are comparatively limited in 

 number. Their propagation is the same 

 as advised for the stove kinds, excejjt that 

 it is not necessary to give them quite so 

 much heat. It is well for the first two or 

 three years to afford them an intermediate 

 temperature, as by this means time is 

 saved in getting them up to a useful size. 

 Where there is a house at command 



sufficiently large to allow of any of the 

 favourite large growing kinds attaining 

 a great size, such as to show something 

 approaching their true character, the best 

 course is to plant them out in a bed of 

 good loamy soil— drained and sufficiently 

 large to sustain them. In a case of this 

 kind, however, it is well to grow them on 

 in pots for some years until they have 

 attained a size which will admit of their 

 roots being present in quantities sufficient 

 to run fieely in the bed. It is well to 

 observe here that the sorts which require 

 comparatively little heat are much the 

 most useful to the ordinary cultivator. 



Insects.— The hard texture of the leaves 

 of Palms is such that insects do not thrive 

 upon them to such an extent as on many 

 plants ; yet, thrips, scale, and mealy bug 

 frequently trouble them. Fumigate foi- 

 the destruction of the thrips ; a free use of 

 the syringe and sponging are the best 

 means for removing bugs and scale. 



ABUTILON. 



These remarkably free-growing green- 

 house plants are natives of South America. 

 Their handsome drooping flowers are 

 produced freely from the young shoots 

 through the greater part of the grow- 

 ing season. They are at no time clothed 

 with the profusion of inflorescence 

 that characterises some things that open 

 most of their flowers simultaneously, but 

 this is amply compensated for by the con- 

 tinuity of their production, rendering them 

 objects of interest for a good part of the 

 year. Most of the greenhouse section are 

 of a somewhat straggling yet vigorous habit, 

 which makes them especially adapted for 

 covering walls or the draping of pillars or 

 rafters ; in such situations their beautiful 

 pendulous blooms are seen to advantage. 

 Their miniature Vine-like foliage is very 

 handsome, and in some of the newer 

 varieties is beautifully variegated, a good 

 part of the surface being profusely marbled 

 with yellow. They are plants of very 

 easy culture, but the season of their flower- 

 ing is much prolonged by their being 

 grown where they receive through the 

 winter and spring a few degrees more 

 heat than the temperature of an oidinai'y 

 greenliouse, such as usually kept up in a 

 conservatory where plants in bloom are dis- 

 played through the dull season of the 

 year ; in a situation like this Abutilons 

 keep growing and retain their leaves 

 better. The flowers are well adapted for 

 cutting, their natural diooping habit fitting 

 them for associating with others oi' more 

 upi'ight form. The charming white variety, 



