Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 



207 



strong-growing plants almost invariably 

 evince a disposition to produce flowers 

 more freely with less wood-growth than 

 when cultivated in peat. Increase the 

 heat of the house or pit in which they are 

 placed as the days lengthen, and give them 

 plenty of light with air in proportion to 

 the temperature and state of the weather ; 

 use a little shade in the middle of the day 

 and syringe freely overhead in the after- 

 noons. When the young plants have fairly 

 started into growth, pinch out the points 

 to induce them to break back. Through 

 the season they require nothing dift'erent 

 from the general occupants of a warm stove. 

 Even this first season many of them may 

 be expected to produce flowers, and when 

 standing as in this state they ought to be 

 on the side stages of the stove, they form 

 conspicuous objects. 



After the blooming is over shorten them 

 back a little, and as soon as they have 

 broken, shift them into pots 3 inches or 

 4 inches larger than those they have been 

 in, using soil similar to that just named, 

 with sufficient sand added to keep it in a 

 healthy open condition. Through the 

 autumn months subject them to drier 

 treatment, both as regards the atmosphere 

 and soil ; winter in a temperature of 60° 

 by night, or a few degrees higher will suit 

 them better. Their management during 

 the ensuing spring and summer will require 

 to be such as recommended for the preced- 

 ing year, except that no stopping should 

 be attempted except with the view of in- 

 ducing a portion of the plants to bloom 

 later. After they have again flowered, the 

 shoots should be shortened back more or 

 less, according to the size to which the 

 plants are to be grown ; but there is nu 

 state in which they are more useful than 

 when confined to small pots. A sufficient 

 stock should be propagated yearly, and the 

 plants may be discarded after their third 

 season's blooming. Where it is desirable 

 to grow them on longer, after they have 

 fairly broken they should be turned out 

 of tlieir pots, as much of the surface soil 

 should be removed as can be done without 

 disturbing the roots in a way likely to 

 injure the foliage, and they should be re- 

 potted in soil similar to that in which they 

 have been grown ; the size of pot should 

 be determined by the size which the plants 

 are desired to attain. They are free 

 rooters, and will bear a shift of 8 inches or 

 10 inches without any danger of the soil 

 becoming sour. The larger the plants the 

 greater quantity of flowers will they pro- 

 duce ; and in this way, with additional 

 root-room, they may be increased in size 

 tor several yeais. Where space is lindted, 



they can be kept in a healthy condition 

 with their roots somewhat restricted, this 

 confinement being compensated for bv the 

 frequent use of manure-water during the 

 growing season. 



There are numbers of species and 

 varieties known to cultivators ; the follow- 

 ing are a selection of the most noteworthy ; 

 amongst them are several of the H. Rosa 

 sinensis varieties, which are the most efi'ec- 

 tive for ordinary cultivation : — 



H. Cameronii. This is a shrubl>y- habited 

 plant from Madagascar ; it is a tall grower. 

 The flowers are straw-coloured, with purple 

 spots. 



H. marmoratus. A small-flowered species. 

 The flowers are white, spotted with rose. 

 A native of Mexico. 



H. Rosa si7iensis brilliantissimus. Has 

 large-sized reddish-scarlet flowers, deeper 

 coloured towards the lower part of the 

 petals. 



H. Rosa sinemis Collerii. A particularly 

 free-blooming sort, with yellow or buff 

 flowers, the lower portion of the petals red. 

 From the South Sea Islands. 



H. Rosa sinensis Dennisonii. A close, 

 dense-growing kind, with creamy-white 

 flowers of large size. A fine sort. 



H. Rosa sinensis miniatus semi-plenus. 

 This plant has handsome stout foliage and 

 bears freely its large semi-double flowers, 

 which are vermilion-scarlet in colour ; the 

 petals are elegantly waved in their outei 

 edge, and not unlike a double Petunia ; 

 the stamens, which protrude between the 

 petals, enhance the appearance of the 

 flowers. South Sea Islands. 



H. Rosa sinensis schizopetalus. Is a most 

 singular and distinct-looking plant from 

 Tropical Africa. The flowers are drooping, 

 suspended on long stalks ; the petals, few 

 in number, are deeply pinnatifid ; the 

 flowers are red. It has a most elegant 

 efl'ect when in bloom. 



H. Rosa sine7isis zebrinus. The individual 

 flowers of this sort are smaller than those 

 of most of the other kinds ; they are quite 

 double, and the back petals are red, edged 

 with yeUow. A distinct and handsome 

 soi-t. 



Insects. — Like most plants that require 

 a high temperature, Hibiscus are subject 

 to the attacks of insects ; the leaves especi- 

 ally, if the plants are allowed to want for 

 water either at the root or overhead, are 

 liable to suffer from red spider, but if the 

 syringe is regularly used and sufficient care 

 taken that the water effectually reaches 

 the undersides of the foliage, this trouble- 

 some little parasite cannot get a footing. 

 Where it happens to exist, we have foun'cl 

 the best remedv to be a weak solution of 



