Greenhouse and IStuoe Plants. 



:19 



jirincipal growth is being made, and also 

 in the autumn and winter, when the 

 Howers are developing. Each sj^ring they 

 should be repotted, a portion of the old 

 soil being removed, but the root-room re- 

 quired is never so much as in the case of 

 most stove subjects. A little liquid manure 

 through the growing season will be found 

 beneficial, but it must not be given so 

 strong as to plants of more vigorous 

 growth. They will last for many years if 

 treated as advised, and not outgrow a 

 limited space ; in fact, by cutting in freely 

 each spring before growth commences, they 

 may be kept within the limits they filled 

 the first year of flowering. 



/. Thomsoniana. This is a white kind, 

 and appears to be almost, if not quite, 

 identical with I. Horsfallise, except in the 

 matter of colour, but the flowers are 

 larger. It is a magnificent twiner, and 

 will no doubt succeed under similar' condi- 

 tions to I. Horsfallise. 



The following are stronger growers than 

 I. Horsfallite, and we have found them 

 best increased by layering, as advised for 

 that kind. 



/. alatipes. A stout-growing plant with 

 heart - shaped leaves ; the flowers are 

 salmon-coloured. Panama. 



/. Gerrardii. A tuberous-rooted species 

 that produces annual shoots and white 

 flowers of large size. From Natal. 



/. Learii. A strong-growing species, 

 suitable for training round wires over a 

 path in a long house where its free growth 

 will have room to extend. The flowers 

 are bluish purple. There are many others 

 most of which succeed under treatment 

 such as above recommended, but these will 

 generally be found sufficient. 



Insects. — Scale and mealy bug will 

 both thrive on Ipomoeas, but when grown 

 in the position above indicated it is an 

 easy matter to keep these pests down by 

 the use of the syringe and sponging ; in 

 the same way if thrips attack the leaves 

 they can without difiiculty be kept under. 



ISOLEPIS. 



This is a genus of ornamental grasses. I. 

 gracilis is the best known, and almost the 

 only kind used for pot culture. It comes 

 from New Holland, and is one of the 

 prettiest small green plants grown for 

 greenhouse decoration. 



Its cultivation is very simple, it thrives 

 in any kind of moderately open soil. It 

 is increased by division — a plant filling a 

 6-inch pot may be divided into pieces more 

 or less at discretion ; this is best carried 

 out in spring before growth begins. A 



portion of roots should be secured to each 

 piece, and they should be placed separately 

 in from 3 to 6 inch pots, according to the 

 size of the pieces ; drain well, and add 

 some san<l to the loam or peat used. Give 

 a good watering at once, and keep a little 

 close in a temperature of 50" by night until 

 they have made some growth, shading in 

 the day when the weather is bright. 

 Plenty of water at all times is necessary 

 for this plant, but especially while grow- 

 ing freely. When well established the 

 temperature of a greenhouse will be suffi- 

 cient. More root-room should be given as 

 required ; plants such as can be grown in 

 6-inch pots will be found large enough for 

 most purposes. 



Insects. — The only insect we have found 

 troublesome on this Isolepis is aphides, for 

 which fumigate or dip in tobacco-water. 



IXORA. 



If asked to point to a genus of plants 

 inhabiting our stoves that combine the 

 showiest of flowers with the finest ever- 

 green foliage, we should have no hesitation 

 in naming Ixoras ; and the freedom with 

 which their great trusses of bloom are pro- 

 duced, ranging in colour from deep red 

 thi'ough all the shades of scarlet and orange 

 to white, entitle them to the first place in 

 any collection of stove plants where there 

 is sufficient heat to grow them. This is 

 indispensable, for, coming, as they do, 

 collectively, from the hottest parts of the 

 world, they are essentially heat-requiring 

 plants — in fact, they -will bear as much as 

 any plant in cultivation ; and, although 

 they may exist in a temj)erature not 

 sutficiently high, we should not recommend 

 their cultivation where there is not the 

 means of keeping them hot enough, not 

 only in the summer hut also in the winter, 

 for to arrive at the highest point of success 

 they should be kept growing slowly even 

 in winter, as if growth is ever completely 

 stopped through insufficient heat, they are 

 almost certain to get into a stunted con- 

 dition, from which it takes a considerable 

 portion of the spring to get them out. 

 Another advantage, when enough warmth 

 is used, is that some or other of the kinds 

 may be had in flower all the year round. 



They strike freely from cuttings taken oft" 

 at any time of the year when young half- 

 ripened wood can be obtained. We prefer 

 the strongest cuttings that can be got, as they 

 make plants much quickerthan weakerones. 

 Take them oft" at the latter end of February 

 or beginning of March, and insert them 

 singly in small pots two-thirds filled with 

 sandy peat, the remaining portion being 



