Greenliouse and Stove Plants 



151 



wood and smaller glossy lea^'es. Its 

 beautiful rose-coloured flowers, which are 

 produced freely, are well set off by the 

 yellow throat. We have had a plant of 

 this variety with 150 bunches of bloom 

 upon it at once. 



D. Houtteana. A distinct, pale-coloured 

 kind, with medium-sized flowers produced 

 freely. 



D. hybrida. Amongst all the species 

 and varieties in cultivation this stands 

 unequalled for the brilliant colour of its 

 flowers, which are of the most glowing 

 shade of crimson, large in size, and stout 

 in texture. The plant has a robust ap- 

 pearance, Avith stout handsome foliage, and 

 blooms freely. 



D. insignis. A fine variety, with deep 

 rosy-crimson flowers of great substance. 

 The leaves are large, and set off the plant 

 to advantage. 



D. magnifica. Is somewhat like the 

 species D. crassinoda, but the flowers some- 

 times come handsomelymarbled with white. 



jD. profv.sa. A free-growing, very free- 

 flowering kind ; the individual blooms very 

 large ; carmine in colour. 



I). Regina. A medium grower, with 

 blush-coloured flowers when first opened, 

 becoming paler as they get older, but deeper 

 coloured in the throat ; a free-blooming 

 variety. 



D. splcndens. One of the oldest, but 

 still a very fine kind. The flowers are 

 white, suft'used with pink, very beautiful, 

 and borne in large bunches. It is a strong 

 grower, with large bold foliage. From the 

 Organ Mountains. 



D. Williamsii. This is an improvement 

 upon D. splendens, the ground colour, as 

 in that variety, being pale blush, with the 

 addition of a deep pink throat, which 

 much enhances its beauty. It blooms 

 freely, and is one of the most chaste flowers 

 that we have. 



Insects. — All the most troublesome 

 insects wliich prey upon cultivated plants 

 are partial to Dipladenias ; mealy bug, 

 scale, and thrips all infest them, and re- 

 quire to be kept under by diligent atten- 

 tion and frequent washing AvitU insecti- 

 cide. 



DIPTERACANTHUS. 



This is one of the numerous genera 

 which the natural Order Acanthacepe in- 

 cludes ; it contains a few species worth 

 growing. Like most of their allies they 

 are easily grown, requiring the same treat- 

 ment as advised for Justicias, which see. 



L). affinis. A scarlet-flowered species, 

 which blooms in winter. It comes from 

 Brazil. 



p. Herbstii. This kind bears handsome 

 crimson and purple flowers, produced in 

 autumn. From Brazil. 



I), spedabilis. Has blue and purple 

 flowers, and is a winter bloomer. Intro- 

 duced from Peru. 



DISANDRA PROSTRATA. 



A greenhouse trailing plant that bears 

 small yellow flowers, produced in the sum- 

 mer. Itisoccasionallymet with as a climber. 



It can be struck from cuttings in spring 

 in the usual way, in moderate warmth, and 

 grown on in the ordinary manner until 

 large enough to plant out or to occupy a 

 moderate-sized pot ; train the shoots on 

 the space to be occupied. A native of 

 Madeira. 



Insects. — Insects do not trouble this 

 plant much, except red spider, which can 

 be kept doAvn by syiinging regularly 

 through the growing season. 



DORYANTHES. 



The known species belonging to this 

 genus of greenhouse Amaryllidaceous 

 plants are few in number. They have a 

 noble appearance when in flower ; their 

 bloom-stems springing from a tuft of re- 

 curved leaves have a decidedly distinct 

 appearance. They can be increased by 

 suckers, which are produced from the base 

 of the old plants, like those of the hardy 

 Yuccas. They require to be taken off, 

 potted, and grown on under general green- 

 house treatment in the matter of warmth, 

 moisture, and air, such as found to answer 

 for other things coming from the same 

 country. 



D. excelsa. In its native habitation 

 this species is said to make flower-stems 

 20 feet high ; the flowers are produced in 

 large heads on the tops of the stems ; they 

 are crimson in colour, and are furnished 

 with bracts of the same hue, which much 

 enhances the effect. It comes from New 

 South Wales. 



D. Palmerii. A newer species than the 

 last-named, and superior to it as a de- 

 corative plant. The flowers are produced 

 in the form of a pyramidal, erect, branch- 

 ing spike, half a yard high by a foot 

 through. The individual flowers are red 

 witli a light centre, almost approaching 

 white. It comes from Queensland. 



DRAC^NA. 



(Stove.) 



Among the stove species and varieties of 

 Dracaena are to be found some of the most 



