AOHUPHVLLUM. 



(Jreenhuu-se and IStuce Plants. 



21 



A. Mauve Queen. Mauve-coloured 

 floweis ; a very fine large-flowered kind. 



A. patens. — Fine violet, tlie flowers 

 large. 



A. picta. — Flowers yellow and scarlet ; 

 a dwarf-habited species from Mexico. 



A. Pink Perfection. Magenta shaded 

 with violet, carmine eye, flower large. 



A. Rose Queen. Purple and rose, -with 

 yellow throat ; very compact habit, profuse 

 bloomer. 



A. Stella. Magentas potted with carmine, 

 orange eye, flowers serrated on the edge. 



A. Williamsii. Vivid scarlet, large 

 flowers ; compact branching habit. 



Insects. — Achimenes are not so subject 

 to insects as many occupants of the stove, 

 although mealy bug will live upon them, 

 and, when once they get affected with this 

 pest, there is not much chance of removing 

 it in any way but with a small brush and 

 sponge, as the nature of the plants is such 

 as not to bear washing with any insecticide 

 that will kill the insects. They are also 

 liable to the attacks of red spider, which 

 must be guarded against by a diligent use 

 of the syringe. 



ACROPHORUS. 



A small genus of Ferns, nearly allied to 

 Davallias, and compiising both stove and 

 greenhouse species. They are low grow- 

 ing kinds with creeping rhizomes and 

 have pretty fronds partaking much in 

 appearance of the smaller kinds of Davallia. 

 The undernamed are worth a place. 



For propagation and cultivation, see 

 Ferns, general details of culture. 



Stove Species. — A. affinis. Borneo. 



Greenhouse Species. — A. hispidus. 

 New Zealand. 



ACROPHYLLUM VENOSUM. 



This evergreen greenliouse plant is a 

 native of New Holland, and is ditKcult to 

 grow. It does not die outright, like many 

 other hard-wooded plants, but gets into a 

 stunted condition. It will often remain in 

 that state for years, but seldom recovers. 

 If from any cause whatever the snuvll 

 feeding roots die, the loss is generally con- 

 fined to them, the thicker roots retaining 

 their vitality, but they appear seldom to 

 have the power of pushing out fresh 

 feeders, hence the lingering condition. To 

 grow it successfully it recpiires the best 

 soil that can be got, soft Avater and close 

 attention. On no account should it be 

 allowed to stand out of doois, not even in 

 the finest summer weather. In one respect 

 it differs from most other greenhouse hard- 



wooded plants — it will not long bear Ijeing 

 under the full influence of the sun in a 

 light house during the simimer. At that 

 season it does better in a darker, and what 

 for most plants would be a worse, structure, 

 where the sun's rays are less powerful. 

 This points to the necessity of using a thin 

 shade in very fine weather. The most 

 usual way of propagation is from seed, 

 which the plant produces freely ; it slioukl 

 be sown in autumn as soon as ripe in pots 

 drained and filled with fine sifted jjeat and 

 sand, the seed covered very lightly, and the 

 soil kept damp but not wet. The seed 

 will vegetate in a temperature of 50° by 

 night, and proportionately higher in the 

 day. The seedlings will not be ready for 

 pricking off before spring, at which time 

 they should be put in 2 inches apart in 

 pans filled with soil similar to that in 

 which the seed was sown. The after 

 treatment required will need to be like 

 that of plants struck from cuttings, a method 

 of increasing this Acrophyllum which we 

 much prefer for adojition in private 

 gardens on account of the many inferior 

 forms of the plant that always appear 

 amongst seedlings. Cuttings of this plant 

 take longer to root than those of most 

 others, and should be taken off with a heel 

 to ensure their succeeding. Young shoots 

 suitable for the purpose can usually be had 

 towards the end of summer, from about 

 the coUar of medium sized or large plants, 

 or from strong shoots that have been cut 

 back to a joint of the hard mature wood. 

 They should be taken off when 3 or 4 

 inches long, and the wood three-fourths 

 matured, with a heel as already ad\dsed, 

 and put 2 or 3 inches apait in 5 or 6 

 inch pots, filled with sand. They must be 

 kept close and moist in a greenhouse 

 tempeiature through the winter ; when the 

 base of the cuttings is callused over, put 

 them in a modei'ate stove temperature, 

 where they will root in a short time. By 

 the beginning of June they should be 

 rooted sufficiently to bear moving singly 

 into 3-inch pots filled Avith fine peat and 

 a little sand. They must be kept close 

 until they begin to grow, when give a 

 little more air, but still let them have 

 intermediate heat and be shaded from the 

 sun ; pinch out the points to make them 

 break back and syringe everj^ afternoon 

 when the house is shut up. Continue this 

 course until the middle of September, at 

 which time admit a little more air, but do 

 not let them be too cold during the 

 winter. 45° or 48° in the night will keep 

 them moving slowly, which is bettei' than 

 total cessation of growth with this ])lant in 

 I its first stages. In March, move into 4 or 



