Greenlwuse and iSfuoe Flaid^^. 



109 



tion, or they will disfigure the leaves, for 

 the appearance of which alone the ])lants 

 are grown. Syringe daily through the aum- 

 mer to keej) free from red sj^ider. 



CITRUS. 



The Common Orange and the more or- 

 dinary kinds of the Citrus family, are too 

 well known to require any description here. 

 Till' plants of the different kinds, fi'om the 

 large Shaddock to the small Otaheite 

 Orange, are very ornamental, either in 

 bloom or bearing their beautiful fruit. 

 Large healthy examples in either condition 

 are amongst the most attractive plants that 

 can be iised in a conservatory. 



They are mostly increased by budding 

 or grafting on stocks raised fi'om the seeds 

 of any of the freer-groA\ang species, per- 

 forming the operation in the ordinary 

 manner ; but most growers will find diffi- 

 culty in proceeding this way, and would 

 prefer commencing with established plants, 

 which if healthy and vigorous Avill grow 

 fast if kept in sufficient warmth. Su^^jpos- 

 iug that such are obtained early in spring 

 in 8 or 9 inch pots, they should at once 

 be examined, and if more root-room is 

 required they ought to be moved to larger 

 pots, being careful not to give too much 

 room ; good rich yellow loam, to which 

 has been added some rotten manure and 

 sand, will answer. Although the different 

 kinds of the Orange family are often grown 

 under cool treatment, such as in company 

 with greenhouse plants, yet they do very 

 much better if kept warmer both summer 

 and winter ; about 50° in the night in the 

 latter season with a little more in the day ; 

 and a night temperature of about 60° ov 

 65° in summer, with 10° or 15° or a little 

 more in the daytime, in very hot weather, 

 will answer. In this way they will tliiive 

 much faster and have a better apj^earance. 

 If after potting they are jiut in a tempera- 

 ture such as here indicated, they will grow 

 apace, syringing freely every afternoon, 

 and giving a thin shade when the sun is 

 powerful. Should any of the shoots show 

 a disposition to take too much lead they 

 should at otice be shortened so as to dis- 

 tribute the strength evenly through the 

 branches, giving air daily according-^as the 

 state of the weather permits, with water 

 when the condition of the soil is such as to 

 require it. Admit still more air in 

 autumn, reducing the temperature through 

 the winter to the point named above. 



Such of the plants as have filled the soil 

 with roots should again be moved in spring 

 to pots 2 or 3 inches larger, raising the 

 temperature as before through the growing 



season, and treating in other respects as in 

 the previous summer. By continuing this 

 course the plants will grow fast, and in a 

 few years attain a handsome size. With 

 fair usage. Oranges are among the longest 

 lived of all cultivated plants. Where 

 there is not the means of giving them 

 wai'mth as above advised, they can be 

 grown under greenhouse conditions, but 

 the progress will be slower ; whaw kept in 

 a low temperature through the winter 

 corresponding caution must be used in 

 watering them. During the growing sea- 

 son, soot water in a clear state, given once 

 every three or four weeks, is a great assist- 

 ance to the plants, not only by invigo- 

 rating them, but it like^vise rids the 

 soil of womis, which if j)resent do much 

 harm. 



The folloAving are desirable kinds : — 



C. Aurantium. The sweet-fruited 

 Orange. 



G. Aurantium Bigaradia. The bitter 

 Orange. 



C. Aurantium sanyuinca. The Blood 

 Orange. 



C. decumana. The Shaddock. 



G. japonica. The small Otaheite 

 Orange. 



G. Limomum. The Lemon. 



C nobilis. The Mandarin Orange. 



Insects. — Oranges are very susceptible 

 to the attacks of insects, particularly scale, 

 which should be carefully removed by 

 sponging. Should mealy bug become 

 troublesome, sponge and syiinge. The use 

 of the latter \\nll generally be sufficient to 

 keep them clear of other j^ests. 



CLAVIJA. 



Evergreen, low-growing stove trees, 

 only suitable for a large house, where 

 there is room to admit of their being seen 

 in something approaching their true 

 character. 



They are increased by shoot cuttings, 

 which should be put in to strike towards 

 the end of summer, when the -wood is 

 approaching maturity ; the cuttings ought 

 to consist of the points of the shoots, with 

 three or four leaves attached, and should 

 be put singly in pots large enough to hold 

 them, filled with sand, kept close, moist, 

 and shaded in a temperature of 60° until 

 the base is call used, when they may have 

 75°. By spring the pots should be suffi- 

 ciently full of roots to admit of their being 

 moved into larger ones ; they will thrive 

 in good turfy loam, with enough sand 

 added to keep it open ; this is essential, as 

 with these and similar plants there is no 

 chance of the okl soil being replaced with 



