AGLAOMORPHA. 



Greenhouse and Stuve Plants. 



31 



roots, causing them to rot. The soil should 

 consist of ordinary loam, with a moderate 

 quantity of sand added, and brick rubbish, 

 broken small for young plants, and used in 

 a laiger condition as the plants get older. 

 Keep the soil slightly moist, not more, 

 until roots are formed, when more water 

 may be given. The after ti'eatnient is so 

 simple that nothing further is lequired, 

 except to give largei' pots as the plants in- 

 crease in size and give evidence of lequir- 

 ing more root-room ; in all cases the pots 

 should be proportionate with the larger or 

 smaller species cultivated. To do justice 

 to the green-leaved or type species of A. 

 americaiia, they should, when the plants 

 approach their full size, have a box from 3 

 to 4 feet in diameter, by 2^ feet deep. 

 Many of the small species, such, for in- 

 stance, as the different forms of A. filifera, 

 do not require, even when full grown, pots 

 above 8 or 10 inches in diameter. In the 

 gromng season the plants should have 

 plenty of light and air, so as to keej) the 

 leaves from being drawn weak and flabby ; 

 this is especially necessary with the longer 

 leaved kinds. Spring is the best time to 

 repot, and afterwards for some weeks 

 give no more water than just enough to 

 keep the soil in a healthy condition ; when 

 growth has fairly begun more may be used. 

 As they cease growing in the autumn, 

 reduce the water, keeping the soil only a 

 little moist through the winter. Most of 

 the species will succeed in a greenhouse 

 temperature, but make more progress in 

 an intermediate heat, say from 45^ to 50° 

 in the night, with a little more l)y day in 

 winter, and in summer 60" in the night, 

 with from 70° to 90° by day, accoitling to 

 the weather. Nearly all the species are 

 indigenous to South America or adjacent 

 parts. 



The following are distinct and hand- 

 some kinds : — 



A. americana. The largest species, 

 requiring much the most room when it has 

 attained anything like full size. 



A. americana aurea variegata. Has 

 deep rich yellow variegation. 



A. applanata. Leaves broad and shoit, 

 armed with brown spines. 



A. Besseriana amcena. A miniature 

 species ; leaves yellowish white, with dark 

 spines. 



A. dealbata. A strong-growing kind, 

 with long narrow leaves, recurving as they 

 get older. 



A. TJe Smetiana. A rare species ; leaves 

 ovate, green, armed with reflexed spines. 



A. filifera. A compact-growing species; 

 leaves 10 or 12 inches long, Avith white 

 filaments, strong sjaines at the apex. 



A. filamentosa. This grows to a 

 medium size, has longish narrow leaves 

 with a strong spine at the end, colour gieen, 

 clothed with long filaments. 



A. Ghiesbreghtii. A handsome kind, 

 with dark green leaves, armed on tlie edges 

 with formidable spines. 



A. horrida. A very strong short- 

 leaved species, green in colour, bearing 

 immensely strong spines on the edge and 

 apex. 



A. 

 stout-leaved species. 



A. Jacquiniana. A large strong-grow- 

 ing species ; leaves from 3 to 4 feet long, 

 of a bluish green colour, spined on the 

 edges and apex. 



A. Kellockii. A stout-growing sort ; 

 leaves nearly 4 feet long, by 3 inches wide, 

 glaucous, with a strong black spine at the 

 extremities. 



A. Kerchovei. A medium-growing kind ; 

 leaves pale green, still paler in the centre. 



A. LeopoUlii. A compact-haliited plant, 

 with short pale green leaves, spined on the 

 edges and apex. 



A. macrantha. A small-growing kind, 

 with slioit glaucous leaves, spined on the 

 edges. 



A. pida. A slender-habited sort; 

 leaves 3 feet long, by 2 or 3 inches wide, 

 white on the edges, green in the middle. 



A. rigida. A large-growing variety, 

 with very long narrow leaves, deep green 

 in colour. 



A. Saundersii. A medium-growing 

 kind ; leaves stout and glaucous, armed on 

 the edges and points with stout spines. 



A. scliidigera. A small-gi'owing com- 

 pact-habited kind ; leaves 10 inches to a 

 foot long, green banded with white, with 

 white filaments. 



A. Tayloiii. A comparatively small 

 grower ; leaves a foot long, green in colour, 

 strong spines at the ajjex. 



A. univittata. A medium-growing 

 kind, with moderately stout leaves, deep 

 green, paler in the centre, armed witli 

 strong spines. 



A. Verschaffeltii. A short thick-leaved 

 species ; leaves pale green, heavily spined 

 on the edges and extremities. 



A. yucccefolia. Of modeiate growth ; 

 leaves narrow, with small spines on the 

 edges. 



Insects. — Agaves are not mucla suljject 

 to the attacks of insects ; if any affect 

 them, sponging is the best remedy. 



AGLAOMORPHA MEYENIANA. 



The only known species included in the 

 genus. A distinct-looking stove Fern tioiu 

 the Phillippine Islands. 



