Greenhouse and Stove Plant-<. 



9y 



it is one of the most distinct and beautiful 

 of all quick-growing autumn bloomers. 

 Ttiere are a few other species of Centro- 

 pogon, but this will be found the most 

 desirable. 



Its propagation and after treatment are 

 similar to that ad\dsed for Eranthemums, 

 which see. 



Insects. — Aphides are the only insects 

 that much affect this plant ; for these fumi- 

 gate. 



CENTROSOLENIA. 



Herbaceous stove Gesnerads of secondar\^ 

 merit. 



Their propagation and after treatment 

 is .'imilar to that advised for Columneas, 

 which see. 



The following a. the most effective 

 kinds : — 



C. hractesceiu. Flowers white. From 

 Venezuela. 



C.huUata. Flowers yeUow. A native of 

 Peru. 



CEPHALOTUS FOLLICULARIS. 



(Tlu Xev: Holland Pitcher Plant) 



A compact, smaU-growing, warm green- 

 house plant that only attains a height 

 of a few inches, but which is one of the 

 most singular in cultivation. Unlike the 

 Nepenthes and Sarracenias, the extremities 

 of whose leaves, or the leaf entire, form 

 pitchers, Cephalotus produces pitchers 

 from the main stem of the plant indepen- 

 dent of the leaves. They are borne on 

 stalks from one, to two, or two and a half 

 inches long, according tu the strength of 

 the plant. When strong, and not growTi 

 too hot and confined, the pitchers with i 

 their curious lids, assume a dark mahogany 

 colour, contrasting in a striking manner | 

 with the pale green of the leaves. Cepha- i 

 lotus is often grown in stove heat, which ' 

 for a time it bears il kept close to the glass, 

 but usually the plants are short-lived under 

 conditions that excite undue growth. At 

 the same time it vnW generally be found 

 better to keep the plants, until they have i 

 got fairly strong, in an intermediate heat, | 

 such, for instance, as that of a house where | 

 Mexican Orchids are grown. It produces 

 suckers freely when strong, and is propa- , 

 gated from these. In spring they should ^ 

 be detached from the stem with the small 

 roots that in most cases they will have 

 made, and placed singly in the smallest i 

 thumb pots. The material in which the | 

 plant does best is fibrous peat broken small, ; 

 and sphagnum chopped fine in about equal j 



parts, with a good sprinkling of brokeb 

 charcoal and sand ; press the soil firm in 

 the pots round the base of the suckers, and 

 give a little water. At once cover close 

 with a propagating glass, and keep them 

 ' untQ rooted in a moderate stove heat, 

 I shaded from the sun, but not too much 

 darkened. In a month or two the little 

 ; plants will begin to root freely, and make 

 leaves, after which stand them nearer the 

 glass so as to get more light, and prop 

 the bell-glasses up a little at one side to 

 admit a little air. Keep the material well 

 moistened. A thin shade will be requisite 

 in bright weather through the spring and 

 summer. Winter in an intermediate tem- 

 perature, and keep the soU always moist. 

 In spring move into pots a size or two 

 larger, and use the same description of 

 soil. As the weather gets warmer keep in 

 a night temperatiue of about 55^, ^vith 5" 

 or 10' more in the day during summer. 

 Winter as before ; again in spring give 

 pots about an inch larger, and now plunge 

 the pots in which the plants are growing 

 in others two or three sizes bigger, filled 

 Nvith sphagnum, pressed hard so that the 

 bell-glass covering each plant can rest on 

 it. This material shoidd always be kept 

 quite damp, and in this way it will preserve 

 a uniform moist condition of the material 

 in which the roots are placed, as well as 

 contributing to moisten the atmosphere 

 surrounding the leaves. Sviinge overhead 

 once or twice a week in the growing season. 

 As the plants increase in size and strength 

 tilt the glasses still further .so as to admit 

 more air. If they are stood close to the 

 glass at the end of the house where the air 

 is not disturbed the glasses may be dis- 

 pensed with altogether when the plants 

 get strong ; in this way the pitchei-s are 

 usually higher coloured. However, their 

 bearing exp osure in this manner depends 

 on the condition of the house as to atmos- 

 pheric moistme and the amount of air 

 given ; if kept dry and very airy the 

 glasses may be required. The plants hav- 

 ing now got strong, they may, after the 

 expiration of the following winter, be 

 grown in a warm gieenliouse, where they 

 are generally less Uable to get out of con- 

 dition than if kept continually in much 

 heat. If aU goes well they will keep on 

 increasing in size for several years, freely 

 producing offshoots, a portion of which 

 can be taken oft' and treated as above 

 advised. 



ixsECTS. — Greenfly is very partial to 

 this plant, getting on the undersides of the 

 leaves, and very quickly causing their de- 

 struction, and that of the plants altogether, 

 if not eradicated in time Examine the 



