CLiANTHus PUNicEus. Grcenhouse and Stove Plants. 



115 



in or out of flower. Suitable for a large 

 greenhouse or conservatory. 



Clethras are increased by cuttings of the 

 tliree-parts ripened shoots, put in about 

 August, several together, in pots filled with 

 sand, kept moist, shaded, and covered with 

 a propagating glass, in a temperature of 

 G5°. When rooted move them singly to 

 3-inch pots in peat and a little sand, 

 and keep them a little close for a few 

 weeks until the roots have begun to 

 move freely. Then dispense with the 

 glasses and reduce the heat somewhat for 

 the winter — say to 55° in the night — but it 

 ^^n\\ be well to keep them at about this for 

 the first season, as they will then attain a 

 much better size than if allowed to remain 

 ;stagnant until spring. About April they 

 will most likely require moving into pots 

 2 inches larger, using soil similar to that 

 given at the first potting. If a little more 

 warmth than that of a greenhouse can be 

 given the plants until the end of May it 

 will Ije an advantage. Now stop the shoots ; 

 let them have plenty of light, with air and 

 a little shade when the sun is bright, syring- 

 ing overhead every afternoon. During the 

 summer an ordinary greenhouse tempera- 

 ture will suffice, as also through tlie autumn 

 and winter. Again in spring give them a 

 2 or 3 inch shift, according to the progress 

 made. Keep a little close for a week or 

 two, and then treat as recommended the 

 previous summer. After this all that is 

 necessary is to give pot-room as required 

 so as to get the plants on in size, as they 

 are much more effective then than while 

 small. They will last for many years if 

 given enough root-room and manure- water 

 in the growing season. 



The following kinds are the most suit- 

 able for greenhouse cultivation : — 



C. arborea. Flowers white, blooms in 

 summer or autumn. A native of iladeira. 



C arborea minor. A smaller growing 

 variety of the above ; the flowers are 

 similar, and it blooms at the same season. 

 Maileira. 



C. ferruginca. Flowers white, blooms in 

 summer and autumn. Introduced from 

 Peru. 



Insects. — Aj)hides sometimes attack the 

 young shoots ; to destroy them fumigate. 

 Should scale be troublesome sponging must 

 he resorted to. 



CLIANTHUS PUNICEUS. 



This, the Glory Pea of New Zealand, is 

 a most distinct and handsome as well as 

 free-flowering evergreen greenhouse plant. 

 It produces its splendid crimson-coloured, 

 singularly-shaped flowers freely in bunches, 



almost as large as an epaulette, during the 

 summer months, at which time it is a very 

 suitable subject for conservatory decora- 

 tion, where it will last for a considerable 

 time in bloom, and is not so liable as some 

 other things are to be injured by being for 

 a time somewhat confined. It possesses 

 also the great recommendation of having a 

 good constitution, it is a free grower, and 

 does not often get out of health. Good 

 sandy fibrous loam will grow it well ; peat 

 may be used if the foinier is not at hand, 

 but where loam such as above described 

 can be had, it wiU induce a freer disposi- 

 tion to flower. 



This Clianthus is easily increased from 

 cuttings of the young shoots, taken ofl" 

 when 4 or 5 inches long, with a heel — 

 these may usually be had in right condi- 

 tion aljout May. Put them singly in small 

 pots filled with sand, and kept close, moist, 

 and shaded in an intermediate tempera- 

 ture, they will root by the middle of June, 

 when inure them to more air and less 

 sliade. In the course of a month they 

 should have made enough roots to bear 

 moving into 4 or 5 inch pots ; pinch out 

 the points of the shoots, after which con- 

 tinue to keep them warm and moderately 

 close, so as to encourage both root and top 

 growth. Give a little shade when the 

 weather is bright, and syiinge overhead in 

 the afternoons. At the end of August give 

 more air, and cease shading and syringing 

 so as to get the growth solidified. Through 

 the winter the usual greenhouse treatment 

 as to warmth, air, and water will suffice ; 

 about the beginning of April the roots will 

 commence to move, and they may be 

 tui-ned out of their pots and their condi- 

 tion examined. If well rooted give a 3-inch 

 shift ; this will be enough, for, although, 

 as has been above stated, the i:)lant is a 

 good grower, it does not make roots in 

 such quantities as some subjects of even 

 smaller growth. Let the soil be well 

 broken by hand, and as much sand added 

 as will keep it in the requisite porous state ; 

 drain the pots sufficiently and make the 

 soil moderately firm, then at once tie the 

 Ijranches well out. 



It is of a somewhat stiff" erect habit of 

 growth, and, unless the training Ls attended 

 to in the early stages, it becomes difficult 

 subsequently to deal with and liable to 

 break. From this cause the plants gene- 

 lally seen are somewhat leggy and soon get 

 bare at the bottom, a condition that cannot 

 afterwards be corrected. At the time it is 

 thus tied out take off" the points of the 

 leading shoots, place the plants in a pit or 

 house, amongst any ordinary young hard- 

 wooded stock, where they will be kept a 



