240 



Greenhouse and iStove Flants. 



LOPHOSPEKMUM. 



The method of propagation and after 

 management will be found under Palms, 

 general details of culture. 



//. altissima. A strong-growing species, 

 with stout, heavily-spined leaf stalks ; the 

 leaves are large, fan-shaped, plaited, and 

 deeply divided. Java. 



L. chinensis (syn. : Latania horhonica). 

 One of the most remarkable of all Palms ; 

 its immense leaves spread horizontally so 

 as to occupy a large space, when the plant 

 gets old, in which state the trunk is thick 

 and massive. The leaves are fan-shaped 

 and deeply di\dded. It comes from 

 India. 



LOMARIA. 



Many of the species of this genus of 

 Ferns are sufficiently distinct in character 

 to be well Avorth growing ; the greenhouse 

 kinds will be found the most desirable. 

 Several assume a miniature Tree form, and 

 can be employed for decorative use in 

 many ways. L. gibba is one of the 

 favourites in Covent Garden Market. 



For propagation and cultivation, see 

 Ferns, general details of culture. 



L. cycadifolia. Juan Fernandez. 



L. discolor. Brazil. 



L. Dalgairnsice. South Africa. 



L. Fraserii. New Zealand. 



I. gibba. New Caledonia. 



L. gibba crispa. 



L. Zamioefolia. 



LOMATIA. 



These are very distinct and handsome, 

 slow-growing, hard wooded evergreen green- 

 house shrubs. Their foliage is beautifully 

 subdivided like that of some Ferns, and it 

 endures in a healthy condition on the 

 plants much longer than that of most 

 things. 



They are propagated from .shoot cuttings 

 which are somewhat difficult to strike ; the 

 cuttings may be put in at the latter part of 

 summer when the wood is nearly in a 

 mature state, and stood in a cool green- 

 house, covered with a propagating glass, 

 and kept moist through the winter until 

 they are callused over. Put them in heat 

 where they will root, and then move singly 

 into smaU pots in turfy peat, broken fine, 

 with some sand added, keep them in an 

 intermediate heat until they have got well 

 established, after which a greenhouse tem- 

 perature will suffice. When a little growth 

 has been made pinch out the points of the 

 shoots ; this must be attended to once or 

 twice each season for two or three j' ears, 

 or they will get thin of branches, which 



I will ultimately cause them to become 

 naked at the bottom. Each spring they 

 should have pots a size or two larger, but 



j they must not be over-potted, as they are 

 .slow growers, and will keep on improving 



I for many years. Should the plants ever 



I get bare at the bottom they ought to be 

 headed down in spring just before they 

 begin to grow, the effect of v/hich treat- 

 ment will be to make them more dense 

 and bushy, and in every way more hand- 

 some than when younger. 



L. elegantissivm. This it a slender- 

 growing species, with the divisions of the 

 leaves finely cut, giving it a very distinct 

 appearance. 



L. silaifolia. A handsome kind, with 

 dark-green, deeply-cut leaves ; it forms a 

 dense bush, and is remarkably elegant. 

 Both are from New South Wales. 

 Insects. — The texture of the leaves is 

 such that few insects molest them except 

 scale, which, if present, must be removed 

 by sponging. 



LOPHOSPEKMUM. 



Climbers suitable for growing on the 

 roof or pillars of a greenhouse. The 

 flowers are produced freely, and have a 

 pretty eff'ect. 



They are easily raised from seeds or 

 cuttings of the shoots, which strike readily 

 in spring in sand, kept moist, close, and 

 shaded in a temperature of 65° or 70° ; 

 when rooted move singly into 3-inch 

 pots — soil composed of peat and a little 

 sand suits them best ; grow on with a little 

 shade when the weather is such as to re- 

 quire it, with air and a free use of the 

 syringe daily. About midsummer move 

 the plants into 6 or 7 inch pots, and grow 

 on as before. Winter in a temperature of 

 45°, and in spring give more root-room, 

 training the shoots to the place they are 

 to occupy. All that is needful afterwards 

 is to see that the shoots do not get en- 

 tangled, and to give additional room as 

 required. 



The following are the kinds most worthy 

 of being grown : — 



L. erubescens. Has rose-coloured flowers, 

 produced in summer. From Talapa. 



L. erubescens maculatum. Flowers purple 

 and white. A hybrid that blooms in 

 summer. 



L. Hendersonii. A pretty variety A\^th 

 rose-coloured flowers produced in summer. 



L. scandens. Flowers purple and violet, 

 a summer bloomer. From Mexico. 



Insects. — Syringe freely through the 

 growing season to keep down red spider ; 

 for aphides fumigate. 



