ARTOCARPUS. 



Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 



53 



or there is no keeping the larger growing 

 vai'ieties in bounds without having to use 

 the knife so as to seriously inteifere with 

 their flowering. 



The undermentioned stove species are 

 all fine kinds, differing considerably in 

 strength of growth, but all thriving in 

 similar soil, and requiring the same treat- 

 ment in other respects : — 



A. Dxichartrei. A medium -growing 

 climber, can be accommodated where the 

 larger species would not have room. The 

 flowers are straw-coloured inside, with 

 brown veining, brown without. From 

 the Uj^per Amazon. 



A. floribunda. This is a native of 

 Northern Brazil, from the Amazon dis- 

 trict ; it is a plant of medium growth, 

 producing a profusion of flowers ; in colour, 

 a combination of yellow and reddish purple. 

 It is very suitable for growing as a trained 

 pot specimen, not being too strong and 

 rampant in growth. It is not much knowTi, 

 and on account of the locality it is intro- 

 duced from, may very likely do Avith less 

 heat than the other species ; this would 

 make it doubly valuable as a decorative 

 plant. 



A. galatea. A free -growing species 

 from Bogata, with cream-coloured flowers, 

 covered with purple veins. 



A.yigas. A very strong-growing species, 

 from Guatemala, with a good deal of the 

 flower of a palish purple ; blooms in July 

 and August ; suitable only for a pillar or 

 rafter. 



A. Goldieana. One of the largest of aU 

 the species. A strong-growing climber, 

 suitable for a large stove, where there is 

 plenty of room. The flowers are very 

 large, the colour on the outside is an olive 

 shade of yellow, inside bright yellow, 

 covered with red veining. From Old 

 Calabar. 



A. leuconeura. A stout kind, of bushy 

 habit, the nerves of the leaves white. 

 Flowers purplish brown, veined with 

 yellow. A native of New Grenada. 



A. ornitJiocephala. A native of Brazil ; 

 flowers somewhat resembling a biixl's head 

 in shape, pale yellow ground, covered with 

 a network of blackish purple ; a very 

 handsome sort. Blooms in June and fol- 

 lowing months ; suitable for either pot 

 specimen or rafter. 



A. tricaudata. This is a shrubby 

 habited species from Mexico, bearing yel- 

 low and reddish-black flowers. 



Insects. — Aristolochias are not much 

 troubled with insects, except red spider, 

 wliich in hot summer weather will soon 

 inj ure the leaves and make them unsightly 

 if the plants are not regularly and freely 



syringed. Brown scale and jnealy bug will 

 sometimes make their appeai'ance, but can 

 be removed by sponging and syringing. 

 The yearly heading down also gives an 

 excellent opportunity for washing the stems 

 when at rest with a strong solution of in- 

 secticide. 



ARTOCARPUS. 



In these we have evergreen trees. A. 

 incisa is the Bread Fruit ; in common with 

 the others it grows to a large size in its 

 native countiy, requiring much room, and 

 on that account it is not likely to prodvice 

 its fruit in this country. But the plants 

 bear handsome foliage, and for this reason 

 are considered by some worth growing 

 whilst in a small state. They strike from 

 cuttings of the shoots, put during spring 

 in small pots, filled with sand, kept close, 

 moist, and shaded in a temperature of 80°. 

 When rooted sufficiently, move into others 

 a size larger ; ordinary loam answers for 

 them. Still keep in a high temperature — 

 they will bear as much heat as most plants ; 

 give a little shade with some air in the 

 middle of the day, and stand them as close 

 to the glass as convenient, so as to counter- 

 act their disposition to spire up quickly. 

 If this be attended to there will be no 

 necessity to stop the leading shoots, as the 

 plants will push outside branches of their 

 own accord. If the pots get too full of 

 roots before autumn, they must have 

 another shift, or they will lose their lower 

 leaves. Keep cooler through the autumn 

 with a drier atmosphere, and winter in a 

 night temperature of 68° or 70°. Give larger 

 pots in spring, and treat during the summer 

 as in the preceding; by the end of this 

 second season the plants will get as big as 

 they need be, and it will usually be found 

 best to destroy them, and to proj^agate 

 young ones to take their place. 



The following are the most desirable 

 kinds : — 



A. Cannonii. Adistinct-lookingsort,with 

 bold handsome leaves. 



A. incisa. An interesting species, with 

 pretty leaves ; one of the best. 



A. laciniata metallica. The leaves of 

 this kind have a distinct metallic lustre. 

 The above are indigenous to the hottest 

 parts of India and the South Sea Islands. 



Insects. — These, like most other plants 

 that require a high tempeiature, are sub- 

 ject to the attacks of mealy bug, which, 

 where present, can only be kept under by 

 a diligent use of the syringe and sponge, as 

 their leaves are not of a texture to bear 

 much hard usage. Should thrips or red 

 spider make their apj>earance, syringe 



