186 



Greenliouse and Stove Plants. 



GLEICHEXIA. 



roots, using soil a little coarser than that 

 in which "they were started. With this 

 section it is even more important than 

 ^vith the first-mentioned to keep them 

 near the light, as the general appearance 

 of the plants is quite as much a matter of 

 consideration as are the flowers they ulti- 

 mately bear ; unless all their leaves are 

 retained in a fresh, healthy condition until 

 the blooming is finished half their beauty 

 is lost, and this is not possible if the leaf- 

 development takes place under insulficient 

 light. They require shade when the sun 

 IS bright, otherwise the leaves do not attain, 

 their wonted lustre. Increa.se the tem- 

 perature as the days lengthen, apply water 

 to the roots regularly, and syringe over- 

 head in the afternoons. By July the 

 strongest plants may be moved into 6 or 

 7 inch pots, the weaker ones recei%'ing pro- 

 portionately less room ; or two or three of 

 these may be put iu a pot of the larger 

 size, but when sufiiciently strong they 

 look best grown singly. They ■n-ill need 

 a thin stick to each shoot to keep them in 

 an erect position. As autumn advances 

 cease shading and the use of the syiinge, 

 and gradually decrease the heat, but this 

 shoiild not be reduced lower than that in 

 which they were fijst started. Their time 

 of blooming will be regulated in a great 

 measure by the heat in which they are 

 kept through the winter ; in an ordinary 

 stove they will be in flower during December, 

 January, and February, and where wanted 

 later it is well to start a few bulbs after 

 the time advised the preceding spring. 

 When the flowering is over, dry them off 

 and store them where they will be neither 

 too cold nor so warm as to cause them to 

 push before they are required. If room is 

 an object, the roots may be .shaken out of 

 the soil and placed in paper bags in a little 

 dr\- sand. 



Among a number of fine kinds the 

 following are especially deserving of 

 cultivation : — 



G. alho'lutescens grandijlora. A hand- 

 some and distinct kind, with delicate 

 creamy white flowers that contrast well 

 with the higher shaded sorts. 



G. Barlowii. A medium-habited sort., 

 with stout leaves and large spikes of 

 flowers. 



G. cinnabarina. A red-flowered, stont- 

 gro^^ing Mexican kind that blooms freely. 



G. Cooperii. A large tuberous Brazil- 

 ian species which, when in strong condi- 

 tion, produces a number of flower-stems 

 that bear stout spikes of rich scarlet 

 bloom. 



G. Dauw. A handsome variety, flowers 

 white, rose, and yellow. 



G. DoncTcelaarii. Also an erect-habited 

 Columbian sort, ■ni.th deep crimson flowers. 



G. exoniensis. A remarkably handsome 

 sort, the leaves of which are beautifully 

 coloured, and in texture as lustrous as 

 velvet. 



G. fulgida bicolor. Flowers vermilion, 

 spotted with white beneath. 



G. gloxinio'.flora. So named on account 

 of its beautiful Gloxinia-shaped flowers ; it 

 is a handsome, but by no means common 

 plant. 



G. ignm. A garden hybrid, with vivid 

 crimson blooms that are very handsome. 



G. Infanta. Tube light rose, yellow 

 within, tinged with blush. 



G. Leopoldi lilacina. A very distinct 

 kind, the flowers of which have a lilac 

 shade; a desirable sort. 



G. magnifica. One of the finest ; flowers 

 deep scarlet. 



G. tubiflora. A South American species, 

 with long tube-shaped scarlet flowers. 



G. zebrina. This Brazilian species be- 

 longs to the scaly-rooted kinds that have 

 such conspicuously handsome leaves, which, 

 independently of the flowers, add much to 

 the beauty of the plants ; the flowers are 

 produced in long erect panicles, and are 

 scarlet and yellow. 



Insects. — The continuous s}Tinging 

 needed when the plants are in active 

 growth is generally sufficient to keep do^vn 

 red spider, thrips, and aphides, but, should 

 the latter appear, fumigate. They must be 

 carefully guarded from the attacks of mealy 

 bug, for, if this gain a footing on the fine- 

 leaved kinds, the .sponging and brushing 

 necessai-y for its removal almost destroys 

 the beauty of the plants. 



GLEICHENIA. 



The species included in this genus of 

 Ferns, which comprises both stove and 

 greenhouse kinds, are not numerous, but 

 they are extremely beautiful. Their ele- 

 gantly divided fronds are conspicuous, not 

 alone among Ferns, but among all other 

 plants as well. Most of the favourite sorts 

 come from New Holland, and adjacent 

 parts. Their creeping stems spread rapidly 

 if allowed space in which to push their 

 roots. In propagating Gleichenias care 

 should be taken not to di-vide them into 

 too small pieces — each piece intended to 

 form a plant should have a good portion of 

 roots attached. They do better kept a 

 little warmer than in a greenhouse, and 

 do not like too much moisture in the 

 atmosphere or being svringed overhead ; 

 they must also be kept perfectly free from 

 scale insects, or it is impossible to grow them 



