Greenhouse and Stove PlanU 



131 



reason that it is not advisable to stop these 

 plants in the summer, as prescribed in the 

 cultivation of most hard wooded subjects, 

 is that if liinched back nothing is gained, 

 as it rarely lias the effect of causing shoots 

 to break out several from each, as in the 

 case of most things, but simj^ly stops 

 growth altogether for the seas(m, and 

 hastens their flowering. Wliere there is 

 not the convenience of a house in which 

 they can receive a little heat early, as 

 above described, all the difference in their 

 treatment required is to pot them later, 

 about April, with the other hardwoodecl 

 greenhouse plants, and treat through the 

 summer as before advised, but hj the latter 

 method they cannot be expected to make 

 so much growth, nor flower so early. 

 When they come into bloom they will 

 make nice little plants for standing on 

 front shelves or in any prominent position. 



When their blooming is over, remov^e 

 the plants to where they will receive 

 ordinary greenhouse treatment as to tem- 

 perature, air, and water, cutting them back 

 as in the preceding season so as to reduce 

 the shoots to 6 or 8 inches in length from 

 the jioint they were shortened to the year 

 before, and again starting them in a little 

 heat as previously, or if a succession of 

 bloom is required, a portion of the stock 

 may be allowed to commence their growth 

 later on in the greenhouse. This year 

 they will bear a 3-inch shift, using the 

 soil in a little more lumpy state, and 

 keeping the strongest shoots well tied out, 

 so as to clothe the base of the plants, 

 treating them through the season as here- 

 tofore. The treatment required during 

 subsequent yeai's will be similar in every 

 way, always cutting the shoots well back 

 before growth begins, or a sufficiently 

 ■dense, bushy condition will not be main- 

 tained. It is not necessary to increase the 

 size of pot beyond 15 inches in diameter, 

 as this will be big enough for full- sized 

 specimens. After the plants have been in 

 pots of this size for a year or two they 

 should be regularly supplied with manui'e- 

 water through the growing season. In this 

 way Croweas may he. kept for years in a 

 thriving, healthy state. 



The following varieties are all worth 

 growing : — 



G. elliptica. A free-growing variety, and 

 equally free in flowering ; has elliptic- 

 shaped leaves. 



C. latifolia. As its name implies, a 

 broad-leaved kind, with large flowers of 

 great substance. 



C. saligna major. A large-flowered form 

 ■oi the Willow-leaved C. saligna, and much 

 .superior to the old variety. 



G. stricta. An equally desirable sort, 

 the habit of the plant more upright than 

 the others. 



Insects. — Croweas are not much subject 

 to the attacks of insects ; greenfly will 

 sometimes aff'ect them, but can be easily 

 killed, the nature of the plants being such 

 as to bear without injury a strong applica- 

 tion of tobacco smoke. The use of the 

 syringe to promote growth during the 

 early part of the season prevents their 

 suffering through red spider. Brown 

 scale is troublesome if it gets upon them, 

 but can be destroyed by strong applications 

 of insecticide when the plants are at rest 

 in the winter. Should white scale get 

 upon them there is not much chance of 

 eradicating it thoroughly, as it requires a 

 stronger dressing of insecticide than the 

 leaves will bear. 



CUPANIA. 



Since handsome-leaved plants became so 

 popular for cultivation under glass many 

 stove species have been used that grow natu- 

 rally to a size such as would preclude the 

 possibility of their being accommodated in 

 oi'dinary sized structures when they have 

 attained their full stature, but by confining 

 their roots in pots and heading them 

 down at intervals they can be kept within 

 bounds. Of this description are the 

 Cupanias ; the best and most suitable for 

 cultivation is C. filicifolia, a West Indian 

 species that, in its native country, grows to 

 a height of 15 or 20 feet. Its beautiful 

 green, finely-cut Fern-like leaves are 

 unsurpassed for their elegant plume-like 

 appearance. The plant is one of those that 

 should always be confined to a single stem ; 

 if more are permitted to grow much of its 

 elegance is wanting. It is easily grown 

 with enough warmth at command, a de- 

 sideratum which its native country at once 

 suggests. 



It may be increased at any time of the 

 year, when cuttings composed of the young 

 shoots 5 or 6 inches long can be taken off 

 with a heel, such as are obtainable from a 

 plant that has been headed back ; they 

 will root in sandy loam in a brisk heat 

 with a confined moist atmosphere, and 

 shaded from the sun, so as to prevent their 

 flagging. When weU-rooted gradually 

 inure them to the air of the house, which 

 keep at an ordinaiy stove temperature. 

 Let them be where they will have abun- 

 dance of light and enough air at suitable 

 times to keep them stout and short. This 

 is necessary with plants like this, that are 

 not to be stopped and grown in bush 

 form, the object being to get them to make 



