Greenhouse and Stove PlanU 



To 



obtainable in a good light house iukIlt the 

 Ml influence of the sun. 



They inci'ease freely from seed sown in 

 the early spring, and treated in the ordinary 

 way, with moderate heat and moisture. 

 The seeds, however, except Avhen imported, 

 ni'e seldom within reach of ordinary culti- 

 ^•;lto^s, as the plants rarely flower in this 

 country, and seeding is uncertain, even when 

 tliey do flower. Consequently in begin- 

 ning their cultivation it is better to procure 

 young plants from those who deal in stock 

 of this description. They are easily grown, 

 requiring comparatively little beyond the 

 ordinary attention in giving water and air 

 in accordance with the active or non-active 

 condition of growth that they may be in. 

 Assuming that the jilants are small when 

 obtained, and requiie more root-room, in 

 the spring give them pots 2 or 3 inches 

 larger, one-fifth filled with drainage 

 material. The soil should be loam of a 

 good description, to which is added a mode- 

 rate sprinkling of broken crocks an<l sand. 

 Pot firm, and encourage groAvth through 

 the spring and summer with an inter- 

 mediate temperature, if such is at com- 

 mand ; if not, give them the warmest place 

 in a greenhouse, or, still bettei-, in a pit 

 close to the glass, in company with other 

 plants that will also be benefited by shut- 

 ting ofi^ the air early in the afternoon. By 

 these means the slow growth of the plants 

 will be accelerated. Give sufliicient water 

 while the season of growth continues, to 

 keep the soil in a fairly moist state, but 

 not too wet. An occasional sprinkling 

 overhead while active growth is in progi'ess 

 will assist them. Keei^ the soil drier 

 through the winter, treating as to tempera- 

 ture as already indicated. Beyond this, 

 all that will be required is to give larger 

 pots as needed, according to the progress 

 that the plants make. They will go on 

 increasing in size for many years, with a 

 consequent improvement in their appear- 

 ance. They are very suitable for standing 

 in a prominent position in a conservatory, 

 which, if kept, as such structures often are, 

 a little warmer than an ordinary green- 

 house, will answer well for them con- 

 tinuously. When the plants get old, if 

 well managed so as to attain strength pro- 

 portionate, the.r w'.ll flower, but, this is a 

 consummation by no means to be desired, 

 as after this, if they do not die down alto- 

 gether like most species of a kindred 

 nature and habit, their symmetrical appear- 

 ance is injured. When a plant happens to 

 flower, the blooming sometimes causes the 

 production of young ofi'shoots from the 

 stem. These, if allowed to remain until they 

 have got strength enough, and then taken 



oft' and inserted singly in small pots in soil 

 of a like description to that advised for 

 established plants, and treated in the way 

 of ordinary suckers as to keeping mode- 

 rately warm and close, but not too moist, 

 will "root and make plants which will re- 

 quire to be managed subsequently as 

 recommended for established plants in the 

 early stages of growth. 



B. juncea. Has smooth, bright-green, 

 almost cylindrical leaves, half-an-inch in 

 diameter a little above the base, tapering 

 gradually towards the extremities, and 

 ending in a sharp point ; they droop 

 straight down so as to cling close to the 

 stem in a dense mass, and are long- 

 enduring. 



B. juncea filamcntosa. A very distinct 

 form of the above, the leaves of which 

 throw off a profusion of long filament-like 

 threads, Avhite in colour, giving the Avhole 

 plant a singular and interesting appear- 

 ance. 



Insects. — Bonaparteas are little troubled 

 with insects. Scale may possibly attack 

 them, and can best be removed by sponging. 



BORONIA. 



These plants, wliirh arc iudi-vnous to 

 New Holland and New S.mth Wales, are 

 evergreen greenhouse shrulis of small or 

 moderate growth,flower most profusely, and 

 continue in bloom for a very long time. 

 When in good robust health some of the 

 kinds will frequently begin to open their 

 flowers in January and February, and re- 

 main without interruption for three or four 

 mouths clothed with their small shell-like 

 pinkish-lilac and red blossoms. The 

 general appearance of the plants in or out 

 of flower is pleasing, they being devoid of 

 that stiff upright habit which many hard- 

 wooded shrubs possess. They are also less 

 liable to get in bad condition at the roots 

 than many greenhouse plants, and with 

 g( lod treatment are moderately fast growers, 

 continuing to flower freely and regularly 

 for a number of years. They are alike 

 suitable for exhibition and for home deco- 

 ration. Being free rooters, in their early 

 stages they should never be allowed to 

 suffer for pot-room, for if they do it is a 

 ditficult matter to get them to move freely 

 afterwards. They are usually grafted, but 

 will do equally well on their own roots, 

 although many growers prefer grafted 

 plants ; we have had them both ways, but 

 never could see sufficient ditt'erence to 

 warrant preference. They succeed best in 

 good j»eat, not necessarily as fibrous as 

 that required by some more delicate- 

 rooted plants ; use one sixth or seventh 



