COCHLIOSTEMA. 



Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 



117 



where they are intended to be grown. 

 They will thrive in either peat or loam, 

 and should have the bed or border in 

 which they are planted confined to from 

 18 to 24 inches square (except where 

 a very large space is to be covered), other- 

 wise they grow so fast as to be un- 

 manageable. Little further is required 

 except training the shoots as they grow, so 

 as to fill the desired space, and cutting the 

 plants in freely each spring to keep them 

 within bounds. 



The following are the kinds usually 

 grown : — 



G. scandens. A quick grower, with 

 purple-tinted flowers. Mexico. 



C. scandens penduliflora. A strong- 

 growing, drooj)ing-flowered kind. 



C. scandens variegata. A variegated 

 leaved variety, with pretty foliage. 



Insects. — Free syringing all through 

 the summer is generally sufficient to keep 

 them clear from the usual pests. If afl'ected 

 with any of the more objectionable para- 

 sites, wash with insecticide when cut back 

 in the winter. 



COCCOCYPSELUM REPENS. 



This is an old, creeping, evergreen stove 

 plant. It is only worth growing for its 

 berries, which are eff'ective, and deep blue 

 in colour. The shoots being of creeping or 

 trailing habit, render the plant suitable 

 for growing in hanging baskets, in which 

 way its pretty berries are best seen. It is 

 easily managed, and can be increased by 

 shoot-cuttings struck in spring, and grown 

 on in moderate stove heat, giving addi- 

 tional pot-room as required. It comes 

 from the West Indies. 



COCHLIOSTEMA JACOBIANUM. 



In this valuable introduction from 

 Ecuador we have a stove plant not only 

 of distinct and stately appearance but of 

 remarkable beauty. It resembles a Brome- 

 liad with a very short stem. Its leaves 

 grow to a length of from 2 to 3 feet, and 

 they are 7 inches broad at the widest part. 

 They are arranged somewhat closely in a 

 tuft-like form, springing from the short 

 stem, which gives the plant the appearance 

 of a huge Tillandsia. They are spi'eading, 

 slightly recurved, and of a somewhat pale 

 green colour, their appearance being much 

 enhanced by the beauty of the large spikes of 

 flowers which are produced freely fi'om 

 their axils. A strong specimen will con- 

 tinue blooming, more or less, for three or 

 four months in succession. The flowers 

 may be described as of a bluish-violet, and 



are borne upon smooth, stout pink stalks 

 from 12 to 18 inches in length and as thick 

 as a man's finger. These are furnished 

 with pale pink bracts from 3 to 4 inches in 

 length by 2 inches in breadth, which, 

 contrasting with the flowers, produce a 

 charming eff'ect, altogether different from 

 anything else. It usually commences 

 blooming in spring, the particular time, of 

 course, being influenced by the condition of 

 the plant and the temperature in which it is 

 gi'own. In addition to its fine appearance 

 it possesses the good properties of not being 

 difficult to manage, and it can be placed in 

 a conservatory when in bloom during tlie 

 summer months without sustaining injury 

 therefrom, when care is taken not to allow 

 it to stand in a draught or too near whei-e 

 air is admitted. At the same time with 

 this, as with most other stove subjects, it 

 does not under such conditions make much 

 growth, and consequently must not receive 

 too much water ; for although it delights 

 in plenty of moisture when in active 

 growth in a moderately high temperature, 

 an over-wet condition of the soil when 

 there is little root development going on 

 is calculated to endanger its health. For 

 a considerable time after its introduction 

 its high price, owing to the slow rate of its 

 increase, kept many from growing it, but 

 now that it is cheaper it ought to find a 

 place in even the most choice collections. 

 It has an agreeable, but not over-powerful 

 perfume. 



It may be propagated by means of 

 suckers, which are produced near the base 

 of the plants. These, when sufficiently 

 strong, may be taken off in the spring, 

 stripping off a few of the under leaves, ami 

 placed singly in pots proportionate to their 

 size in soil consisting of half sand and 

 loam ; they will soon root in a tempe- 

 rature of 70° kept moderately, but not too, 

 close. When sufficiently rooted, the young 

 plants should be gradually exposed to 

 the full air of the house, giving them 

 plenty of light, but not direct sunshine. 

 They should, however, by no means be 

 shaded by other plants, for if so they will 

 never make enough roots to support a 

 vigorous head of leaves, without which the 

 plant cannot be seen in its best condition. 

 When the j^ots are moderately filled with 

 roots shift into others 7 or 8 inches in 

 diameter. It will succeed in a mixture of 

 two-thirds good yellow turfy loom and 

 one of fibrous peat, to which a liberal ad- 

 mixture of sand, broken crocks, or char- 

 coal should be added, and a little chopped 

 sphagnum. Drain the pots well ; crocks 

 to one-fifth of their depth will not be too 

 much, as, in common with other things of 



