Greenhuusti and iStove Flunts. 



BlLLiiBRGT\. 



keep it porous ; insert the suckers well up 

 to the leaves, jiressing the soil down firmly, 

 and do not give any water for some days, 

 or it will make the soil too wet. Place 

 them in a house or pit in which there is a 

 night temperature of 65° or 70°, and 6° or 

 8° higher in the day ; if they can be 

 accommodated with a bottom heat of 

 80°, they will root quicker than they 

 otherwise would do, but do not confine 

 them in a propagating frame or under 

 glasses, as is done in the case of cuttings, 

 for, if too humid, they are liable to rot. 

 In the course of a month or so they will 

 make roots, and air should be given when 

 required. By midsummer they should be 

 in a fit condition for shifting into pots a 

 size larger than those they are in, but none 

 of the family should be overpotted, as 

 they do not like more soil than the roots 

 can fully occujjy. Let them have a light 

 situation, but during summer they will 

 require a thin shade in sunny weathei'. 

 Supply them regularly with water as it is 

 wanted, and syringe overhead in the after- 

 noons during the season of active growth. 

 Continue this treatment until tlie be- 

 ginning of September, when they will 

 not need further shading, and syiinging 

 may also be discontinued. The tempera- 

 ture may now be reduced 5° day and night, 

 and by the middle of October it may be 

 allowed to fall to 60° at night. At this 

 point it may be kept throughout the winter, 

 during which they will want less water, 

 but should never be allowed to get too dry. 

 In spring as the days lengthen raise the 

 temperature a few degrees. By the be- 

 ginning of May the roots will be in an 

 active condition, and the plants should be 

 moved to pots a size larger than those they 

 are in, the soil used being in a similar state 

 to the last potting. If a few bits of crocks 

 or charcoal are added it will ensure the 

 roots keeping healthy, as they dislike any- 

 thing of a sodden, impervious character. 

 As the season advances increase the tem- 

 perature to the same height as it was 

 during the previous summer, and give air 

 as before, shading when requisite. This 

 season the plants will, if all goes on well, 

 make strong growth, and some i;f them 

 may need a second shift in July if the pots 

 are well filled with roots, but unless that is 

 the case do not move them. To such as 

 evidently require more room give pots i; 

 inches larger, and encouiage them to make 

 all the growth possible by giving plenty 

 of heat and light, as the stronger the plants 

 the finer will the flowers be. In autumn 

 reduce the temperature, and treat through 

 the winter as during the preceding one. 

 They will not require repotting in spring. 



but in everything else l.^ey should be 

 managed as already recommended, and they 

 will throw up their bloom-spikes during the 

 spring and summer. When in flower, 

 move them to the coolest end of the stove, 

 or to an intermediate house, if such is 

 available, in which a drier alm(j;^pliere is 

 maintained. Thus situated, the flowers 

 will last longer than they otherwise would. 

 When the blooming is over they should 

 be kept in the stove and treated in every 

 way as hitherto, for upon the attention 

 which they get will depend their ability to 

 l^roduce suckers quickly, and in a con- 

 dition such as will enable them to grow 

 up to a flowering size in the least time. 

 After the first suckers are removed, the old 

 plants, if well cared for, will throw up 

 more, which may either be taken otf and 

 rooted singly as already described, or can, 

 if large specimens are wanted, be allowed 

 to lemain on the old plants. These if 

 shifted into larger pots and grown on, 

 will make flowering crowns in one 

 season. 



The i'ollowing are a few of the l>est kinds, 

 which will form an acceptable addition to 

 any collection of stove plants, as even when 

 not in flower they have a distinct and 

 handsome appearance : — 



B. Chantinii. A fine species, with blight 

 red bracts. The flowers, borne on a stem 

 a foot high, are yellow and red. 



B. iridifolia. The Iiis-leaved Bil'i- 

 bergia is a handsome species, with scarlet 

 and yellov/ flowers. It comes from Eio 

 Janeiro. 



B. Moreliana. Not only one of the best 

 Billbergias, but also ono of the most 

 beautiful of the whole of the Bromeliaceous 

 Order. It is a native of Brazil. Its leaves, 

 which grow to a considerable length, have 

 a lively green ground <"iJoui, banded vnih 

 white ; its flower-spite is drooping and 

 very gracefv.l ; the flovrers are criiuson- 

 puiple. 



B. polystachya. Has leaves furnished 

 v.dth strong spines. The spike is erect, the 

 bracts aie small and reddish-crimson, the 

 flowers purple. A native of Brazil. 



B. roseo-marginata. A strong-growing 

 kind, with long leaves banded with white ; 

 the bracts are rose-coioured the flowers 

 light puiple. 



B. Saundersii. This is a stout-growing 

 species, with strap-shaped leaves 10 or 12 

 inches in length, spined on the margin, 

 the under-surface being of a purplish 

 colour, and covered with light-coloured 

 blotches. The flowers are jjioduced in 

 half-drooping racemes about 12 inches in 

 length, furnished with long crimson bracts. 

 The calyx is crimson, the corolla deep blue. 



