G reenlioiise and Stuoe Plaids. 



ACUUSTiCUUM. 



5 inch pots, and again stop the strongest 

 slujots, tying them out horizontally whilst 

 young, as the wood is naturally hard and 

 does not bend well when it has attained 

 much strength. After they have got 

 established in the new soil, a greenhouse 

 temperature a little closer than required 

 liy larger plants will be best, with 

 shade from the full force of the sun, and 

 dewing over with the syringe when shut 

 up in the afternoon. Give more air in 

 the autumn, and winter in a temperature 

 of from 40"^ to 45°. In March, give pots 

 3 inches larger, using the best fibrous peat, 

 carefully broken with the hand, ancl 

 rejecting all the small particles ; add about 

 one-seventh of sand, and use the potting 

 lath, so as to ensure that the soil is made 

 thoroughly firm. After potting, place the 

 plants where they can again be kept a 

 little close ; shade when the sun is bright, 

 and keep the surface they stand upon 

 syringed two or three times daily, after 

 which give more air, but never allow them 

 to stand in a cold current. Close the 

 house early, so as to shut in a little sun- 

 heat ; continue to syringe the stage all 

 about the pots, as well as overhead, at the 

 time of closing through the summer, which 

 will greatly assist their growth. 



Train out, so as to lay the ground-work 

 for the future specimens, and bring the 

 strongest shoots the lowest, which will 

 balance their growth. The plant does not 

 like much stopping, which should not be 

 resorted to except in the case of shoots that 

 are much the strongest. Training as de- 

 scribed above will generally cause them to 

 break back sufficiently to furnish the plant. 

 Towards the end of August discontinue 

 syringing, and do not close the house as 

 heretofore. During the winter keep the 

 plants somewhat drier at the roots, with a 

 night temperature similar to that of last 

 year. Towards March, if the roots are 

 active, move into pots 3 inches larger, 

 using soil similar to last season. The 

 plants will flower in May, and, as soon as 

 the blooms have decayed, remove them at 

 once, for if they are allowed to seed growth 

 will be much retarded. It requires con- 

 siderable care in removing the flowers not 

 to destroy the points of the shoots, which 

 grow right through the flowers, as, if those 

 tender points are injured, they will have 

 to break from the joint below where it 

 has flowered, and the wood is so hard that 

 it does not Ijreak freely. Let the general 

 treatment be like that of last season. 

 Through the summer and following winter 

 attend to tying and training as before, and 

 as soon as the roots ai'e in motion give pots 

 3 or 4 inches larger, according to the 



quantity of roots the plants have made, 

 using, as before, the best peat, broken now 

 a little largei'. Ti'eat generally as in the 

 previous season. The plants will now be 

 getting nice specimens, and may be ex- 

 pected to bloom freely ; place them when in 

 riower where they will be well shaded from 

 the full sun ; by this means their flower- 

 ing will be prolonged. Each succeeding 

 season attend to their potting, &c., as be- 

 foie. For although, as mentioned at the 

 commencement, the plant is a ticklish 

 subject, sometimes it will go on for 

 eight or ten years. 



We would also particularly direct atten- 

 tion to close obseivation in the application 

 of water. We feel convinced that the want 

 of success with this, as well as many other 

 plants, is attributable to a uniform system 

 in the operation of watering. To any one 

 who attentively considers this matter, it 

 will appear obvious that a plant like the 

 Acrophyllum, with a considerable amount 

 of leaf surface, will necessarily lose a great 

 deal more by evaporation than a plant 

 with small hard leaves — such, for instance, 

 as the Aphelexis. Consequently, it should 

 receive water before the soil becomes so 

 dry as in the case of the latter plant. By 

 such treatment we have found it thrive well, 

 and amply repay the attention bestowed 

 upon it by yielding a profusion of its 

 beautiful Spira3a-like flowers, which, if 

 kept shaded from bright sun, will last 

 three or four weeks. The plant is so re- 

 markably distinct in both flower and foliage, 

 also so much less formal in its general 

 habit than other hard-wooded greenhouse 

 plants, as to render it a most desirable 

 addition to even the most select collection. 



Insects. — It is not subject to the attacks 

 of any insect excepting scale, Avhich must 

 be carefully removed with a sponge, for 

 although the leaves have a haicl appear- 

 ance they are exti'emely impatient of rough 

 usage. We have seen a plant completely 

 spoilt by the scale being removed from its 

 leaves with a small brush made for the 

 purpose, although used with care ; in a 

 few days after the leaves showed the mark 

 of every bristle just as if they had been 

 scratched with a pin. Very little injury 

 causes the leaves to turn yellow and fall 

 oft', which much injures the plant ; for any 

 mutilation of the leaves has a greater 

 eftect u])on the roots of tlie plant than any 

 other with which we are acquainted 



ACROSTICHUM. 



A genus of stove Ferns, few in number. 

 They are mostly from the Eastern hemi- 

 sphere, and distinct in appearance ; but 



