126 



Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 



COSMELIA RUBRA. 



All evergreen New Holland shrub, the 

 only representative of the genus in cultiva- 

 tion ; it is not equal to many things that 

 require greenhouse protection. 



It can be increased by cuttings, and 

 grown on afterwards similarly to Epacris, 

 wliich see. 



Flowers red and produced in spring 



COSSIGNIA BORBONICA. 



This is a handsome evergreen hard- 

 wooded shrub from the Mauritius ; con- 

 sequently it requires a brisk heat in which 

 to grow it well. Its beauty priuci]ially 

 consists in the leaves, which are pale olive- 

 green, with a handsomely coloured midrib. 

 This plant has been much prized by culti- 

 vators of ornamental-foliaged subjects, 

 from the fact of its being a slower grower 

 than the generality of fine-leaved plants, 

 and on this account not so liable to out- 

 grow the limits of the space allotted to it. 

 When it has attained sufficient strength, it 

 usually branches out freely, forming a good- 

 sized bush, like a large Croton. 



It is a somewhat difficult plant to pro- 

 pagate, the cuttings being harder to strike 

 than those of many things, but they may 

 be rooted if the young shoots are taken otf 

 Avith three joints or so when in a three- 

 parts matured condition. Put them singly 

 in small pots in sand, covered with a bell- 

 glass, and set them in an ordinary stove 

 until they have got callused, which Avill 

 sometimes take several months to effect. 

 They should then be placed in a bottom- 

 heat of 75°, still kept moderately close and 

 shaded ; the sand all along must be main- 

 tained in a fairly moist condition, bat not 

 too wet. A still more certain way is when 

 there is a strong plant to cut some or all of 

 the branches back to where the wood 

 is quite haid in early spring before 

 growth commences, and then to subject 

 it to more warmth, which will cause the 

 back buds to break. These sliould be 

 grown on gradually under the influence 

 (jf plenty of light, so as to keep them from 

 being weakly. When the shoots have 

 reached a length of about 5 or 6 inches 

 they should be taken off with a heel of the 

 old' wood, and put separately in small pots 

 half filled with sandy peat, the surface all 

 sand, kept close enough to prevent flag- 

 ging, in a bottom-heat of 80° and shaded 

 from the sun, which would injure them. 

 So treated, a good percentage of cuttings 

 may be induced to root, after which they 

 must be gradually inured to bear the air 

 of the house. When the pots are fairly 



tilled with roots move into otliers 5 inches 

 in diameter, giving them good fibrous peal 

 and sand enough to make it porous. The 

 2)lants, as soon as jaretty well established, 

 shoukl be stood near the glass, so that they 

 may not be disposed to get drawn up 

 weakly. This Cossignia in its first stages 

 is inclined to be of an erect habit, and it is 

 useless attempting to stop it before it has 

 got sufficient strength to enalile it to suji- 

 port side branches, which will hardly take 

 place before the second year. A second 

 shift may be required during the summer, 

 but not a large one ; one or two sizes 

 bigger pots than those into which the 

 plants were moved from the cutting pots 

 will be large enough. Air must be given 

 through the growing season in the middle 

 of the day, and shade from the sun when 

 full on the glass will be required ; syringe 

 daily to keep down insects. A daj^ tem- 

 perature in the growing season of 75° to 

 85° should be given, and not lower than 

 60° in the winter in the night time. In 

 the spring the leading shoot ought to be 

 reduced two or three joints, as now the 

 plants may be supposed to have strength 

 enough to break and maintain a couple of 

 shoots, which by being tied down when 

 they have grown to the length of 10 or 

 12 inches will again break. Larger pots 

 should be given as required. Managed in 

 this way the plants keep on growing and 

 attaining a more bushy condition foi' years; 

 and if in the course of time they get at all 

 bare of leaves about the bottom, the head 

 and side branches may be cut well back in 

 the sjaring and treated so as to cause them 

 to break out afresh, when they usually 

 make liner, better furnished specimens than 

 when younger. 



Insects. — As to insects, the daily use of 

 the syringe will generally be sufficient to 

 keep down the least troublesome, such as 

 aphides, thrips, and red spider, and the 

 smooth leathery nature of the leaves is 

 such that they are easily freed from bugs 

 or scale by sponging, should these latter 

 affect them. 



CRASSULA. 



This name was fcjrmerly applied to a 

 handsome and well-known plant now in- 

 cluded in Kalosanthes. There are one or 

 two sjaecies of Crassula, sometimes used as 

 greenhouse climbers, though not equal for 

 this purpose to many others. The method 

 of propagation and after treatment ad- 

 vised for Kalosanthes will answer for these 

 Crassulas. 



The iindermentioned are suitable for 

 using as climbers : — 



