<J2 



Greenhouse and Stove Plants 



of growth. To keep up a succession, one 

 or two additional sowings sliould be made 

 at intervals of aboi;t a month. Seed is 

 produced much more sparingly by the 

 fine double flowers than by such as are 

 single, yet it is only from the former that 

 seed should be saved, and it should be 

 selected from the flowers on the principal 

 stems of the plants, not from the side 

 branches, the flowers on which are usually 

 semi-double, and yield a much less pro- 

 portion of seed that will givedouble flowers. 

 Insects. — Syringe overh ead to keep down 

 red spider. Should aphides be troublesome 

 fumigate with tobacco. 



BAMBUSA. 



A genus of grasses of a highly orna- 

 mental description. Some of them attain 

 a gigantic size, such as the stove species B. 

 arundinacea, which, in a house suificiently 

 high to allow it enough head-room, will 

 reach 50 feet or more in a single season. 

 Several of the smaller growing sorts that 

 can be accommodated in an ordinary green- 

 house have a distinct and elegant appear- 

 ance, their reed-like stems and pretty foli- 

 age being extremely eft'ective. Some of 

 tiie kinds are hardy in the south of the 

 kingdom. 



They are increased by division of the 

 crowns or suckers, which most of them 

 produce freely. They should be divided 

 in spring, and the pieces potted singly in 

 pots large enough to accommodate the 

 roots which will be made during the 

 summer. Ordinary loam suits them, with 

 a little sand, and thej^ should have plenty of 

 water when they have begun to grow freely. 



B. arundinacea. A majestic-looking 

 plant, forming long, straight, thick stems, 

 which, in their early stages, grow so fast 

 as to make them very interesting on this 

 account alone, independent of their stately 

 appearance when fully matured. It re- 

 quires a good deal of room, and comes from 

 India. 



B. Fortuneii variegata. A prettily 

 variegated kind. 



B. nana. A dwarf-growing species, 

 of elegant appearance. The stems are 

 branched and slender ; the leaves small 

 and lance-shaped. A pretty kind that 

 does well in a greenhouse. Introduced 

 from Japan. 



B. Simonii. A moderately tall-grow- 

 ing sort, with elegant habit. It will thrive 

 out-of-doors, but makes a pretty pot plant. 

 From China. 



B. Simonii aurea. A handsome form of 

 the above. 



Insects. — Both aphides and red spider 



\\'ill live on the plants, but the character 

 of the leaves is such that these insects can 

 easily be kept under by free syringing in 



the summer. 



BANKSIA. 



A fine genus of hard-wooded evergreen 

 greenhouse plants, remarkable for their 

 distinct appearance. They were largely 

 grown in times past, but are rarely met 

 with now. There are many species in 

 cultivation, and a selection of the best 

 deserves a place. 



They can be raised from seeds or shoot 

 cuttings ; the latter, in most cases, will be 

 the most ready way of increasing them. 

 The wood should be nearly matured in 

 autumn before being made into cuttings, 

 whicli should be taken off at about the 

 third joint, and inserted in pots filled with 

 sand. Cover ^vith a propagating glass, and 

 stand for a time in a greenhouse, after 

 which put them in a moderately warm 

 stove, or pit. When rooted move singly 

 to small pots ; good peat, with a liberal 

 addition of sand, suits them. When potted 

 keej) moderately close until they get esta- 

 blished and have begun to grow^, when 

 the usual greenhouse treatment is all that 

 is required. Give larger pots each spring, 

 as more room is needed. Banksias will 

 stand out-of-doors in summer, and are 

 benefited by being thus exposed, provid- 

 ing they are carefully attended to with 

 water, of which they are impatient of hav- 

 ing either too much or too little. 



B. Caleyi. A large, handsome-leaved 

 species, forming a goocl sized bush. 



B. Cunninghamii. This kind forms a 

 moderately compact bush ; the leaves are 

 much smaller than those of the last-named 

 species. The flowers, which are pale 

 yellow, are singulai\ 



B. foliosa. A bold, handsome-leaved 

 species, with a distinct aj^pearance. 



B. solandra. A scarce and handsome 

 species, quite different in appearance from 

 any of the preceding ; the leaves are dis- 

 tinctly lobed, and terminate so abiuptly as 

 to appear as if the extremities had been 

 cut away. 



B. sfeciosa. A remarkable kind, with 

 long, narroAv leaves, so deeply lobed as to 

 give it an aj^pearance differing from any 

 other plant we lecollect. All the above 

 aie fiom Austi'alia. 



Insects. — Few insects interfere with 

 these plants, except scale, which, if it gets 

 a footing, increases on them apace ; it is 

 best destioyed by sponging, but care should 

 be taken not to disfigure the leaves in the 

 operation. 



