Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 



155 



more air than, in the previous summer, 

 but not so much, nor should the atmo- 

 sphere be so dry, as for okler stock ; a 

 slight syringing overhead may be given at 

 shutting up time in the afternoons. Again 

 stop the shoots when they begin to move 

 freely, and treat as in the preceding 

 summer with the exception of now con- 

 tinuing to give more air. Look closely to 

 the plants every day to see what water 

 is required, and never give any until the 

 soil is dry enough to need it. Continue 

 this till August, when give more air, 

 keeping cooler through the autumn, and 

 winter at about 45° in the night. In the 

 spring towards the end of March repot in 

 the best fibrous peat, to which add one- 

 seventh of sand ; pot firm and give a 2 or 

 3 inch shift, which vdW be sufficient, as 

 there are few plants that require less root- 

 room. Keep them a little close until they 

 take to the new soil, and be careful in the 

 use of water. Cut the shoots back to 

 W'ithin 4 or 5 inches of where they were 

 stojjped the last time ; treat through the 

 summer, autumn, and winter as before. 

 About the same time in the spring give 

 pots 2 inches larger. Towards the end of 

 April the flowers will be fast pushing up. 

 At the base of the flower-stalk, about 6 or 

 8 inches below the flowers, a number of 

 buds will be found — the shoots the plant 

 is pushing for another year. If these are 

 allowed to go on the plant will get thin 

 and straggling, consequently after blooming 

 the shoots should be cut back half-way 

 between these buds, and where the last 

 year's shoots spring from ; this will keep 

 them in a sufiicienlly compact state. Treat 

 through the summer as advised for the 

 preceding, and winter similarly as to light 

 and water. A temperature of about 40° 

 will now be sufticient ; the following 

 spring they will flower from every point. 

 After the blooming is over cut back as 

 advised last year ; do not allow the shoots 

 to remain at greater length, and when 

 they have fairly broken again give a 2 or 

 3 inch shift. When they have reached 

 this size it is better not to re-pot until 

 after flowering, as they will now be very 

 useful for general decoration. Through 

 the summer and autumn treat as hereto >- 

 fore, and winter as previously advised. 

 After they have bloomed the following 

 year shorten the shoots as before, and give 

 a 2 or 3 inch shift, w-hich in most cases 

 will be as large as ever found necessary for 

 this plant, for afterwards sufficient strength 

 can be kept up by giving weak manure- 

 water once a fortnight through the growing 

 season. 

 This Dracophyllnm is better never 



turned out in the open air ; it is not sub- 

 ject to mildew, consequently requires no 

 hardening, and it is naturally such a free 

 flowerer that it needs no exposiu-e in this 

 way to ripen the growth. 



\Ve have said nothing so far respecting 

 training the plant. Each time it is potted 

 insert as many sticks in the new soil as are 

 requisite to support and keep tlie outer 

 extremity in shape ; by this means the 

 least possible injury will be done to the 

 roots, and as the centre of the plant re- 

 quires the sticks to be replaced, put the 

 new ones in the holes the old ones have 

 occupied : so managed little injury will be 

 done. The plant is a thin, wiry, weak 

 grower, requiring to be well suppoited ; 

 the sticks should always be somewhat 

 thinner than requisite for things of a 

 stronger habit of growth, and no more 

 supports than are absolutely necessary 

 should be used. In the training of this 

 plant we frequently see so many sticks 

 employed as to make them much the most 

 prominent feature, which is most objection- 

 able, and only exceeded in ugliness by 

 placing it, as is sometimes done, on a wire 

 trellis. 



Insects. — There are few plants so little 

 subject to the attacks of insects ; if brown 

 scale api)ear they increase so slowly on it 

 that they are easily kept Aowtx h\ the 

 occasional use of a snuill bi-ush or sponge. 



DROSERA. 



These are very interesting plants ; the 

 British species, popularly called by the 

 name of Sundews, are well known. The 

 exotic kinds that require a warm green- 

 house or cool stove to do them justice are 

 much larger growers than the native 

 species. They should have plenty of light 

 and moisture, and do best in living 

 sphagnum with some fibrous peat and pot- 

 sherds added ; the material should be kept 

 constantly wet almost to saturation. 



They are easily propagated from seeds, 

 which should be sown in a mixture of 

 finely-chopped sphagnum and peat, to 

 which add a little sand. Press the 

 material firm, and scatter the seeds on the 

 surface, having first settled it well with 

 water ; afterwards stand the pots in a pan 

 of water, by which means little will be 

 required to be applied on the surface. 

 Place the pots in a moderate stove heat ; 

 as soon as the seedlings are large enough to 

 handle put them singly in small pots, and 

 treat in the matter of Avater and warmth 

 as already advised. Give a little shade in 

 bright weather during summer, with plenty 

 j of light. All that is requisite further is to 



